[Avodah] Z"L in English

[Zvi Lampel]

Wed, 16 May 2007 from: Micha Berger <micha at aishdas.org>

On Wed, May 16, 2007 at 09:26:26AM +0100, R Yaakov Wise was helping
RnSB translate "z"l" on Areivim and wrote:
: Usually translated as ..."of blessed memory." Educated non-Jews all know
: this expression - at least in the UK.

> Except that z"l stands for words meaning "may his/her memory be for
a blessing." We are not blessing the memory, but acknowledging the
memory is a source of blessing for us. <


Another (if not the only real, in this context) translation of “zecher” is “mention” (a /verbal/ remembrance, as in “zecher l’maaseh Breishis,” which halachah takes as an obligation to /speak/ of the Creation process over a cup of yayyin, or “zecher l’y’tzias Mitzrayim,” which entails /speaking/ about the exodus). Zechar Tsaddik L’bracha=“The mention of a tsaddik (which this person was) ought to evoke a blessing,” i.e., he (his soul) deserves good fortune,” or perhaps, "his blessed, positive accomplishments should be mentioned in conjunction with his name." The latter idea was taught by Rav Avigdor Miller, zt”l (whose yirass shammayim was stellar).

Zvi Lampel


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