Being named Ezra in Turkey suuure is fun!
You see, the name Ezra is one of those names that is remarkably similar to a common Turkish WOMAN’S name: Esra. In fact, when said quickly, the two sound almost indistinguishable, at least to the Turkish ear. Or so it seems judging from the looks I get when I say my name.
I have instead resorted to saying my name slowly. eZZZZra. No matter. I still get quizzical looks. I then immediately tell people “Ezra değil” (not “Esra”) but Ezzzzzra. With a “zet.”
“You know, there is a Turkish girls name called Esra. Did you know that?” they always say.
“Uh huh…I know.”
“There is also a less common Turkish girls name: “Azra.”” (means “untouched”)
“Yep.”
So between the two I am pretty much fucked.
Not to mention there is “Azrail,” which is the angel of death!
People are also eager to ask what the origins of my name are. I never divulge this until asked. I say its a Hebrew name, but I don’t say I am Jewish until asked. Even then I am coy. There is a latent anti-Semitism in Turkey. Most people I associate with are totally cool with Judaism and are eager to learn about it, or they relate stories of a Turkish Jewish friend they have or something they learned about Judaism.
Nevertheless, with Erdoğan’s mildly Islamist government in charge, I cant help but feel a bit more nationalism in the air this time around than 6 years ago. Though he is a pragmatist above all else, and though Turks are very good at distinguishing an individual from the politics of the country they are from, I feel like Turks today are more eager to voice anti-Israel sentiments and equate them with all Jews, Israeli or not.
I know one person who worked in the Jewish community, for example, who wont even discuss the nature of her work over the phone in public places. While this may be a bit of an extreme precaution, it goes to show that human rights in Turkey means tolerating minorities — sometimes barely — as opposed to embracing them. Turkey has a long way to go in this regard if it wants EU membership.
so interesting…
i was just talking about examples of latent antisemitism…but not from others, from oneself. i hope all of these slightly inconvenient responses toward your name aren’t making you forget how beautiful your name is though, and how much history lies behind every letter of it in the hebrew alphabet. (i am learning a bit about kabbalah here and names–esp the names within names that are carried through the lettering–are so rich with meaning and importance.) if it gets really annoying…just tell them to call you spidermonkey!
that is true. I ought not forget about the kabbalistic significance behind my name. Actually, I never really learned. But I am glad you are studying it! I have the opposite of anti-semitism from myself. I sometimes feel bad because I am a half-Jew by blood. So somethings I dont like about myself (such as propensity for addiction, my lack of academic diligence) I attribute to my CHRISTIAN half and irrationally think that if I were 100 percent jewish and a bit more observant I would be smarter/more successful/happier, etc.
Yessss spidermonkey ALWys the ANSWER. weee hahahaha
That’s pretty funny — “Did you know your name sounds just like a chick’s name?”
“Yes.”
“Because, you know, Esra sounds just like — ”
“Yeah, I know. Got it.”
“So how did you get this name?”
“It’s, um, Hebrew.”
“Wow! I never would have guessed, given your propensity for addiction and lack of academic digilence!”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
Hehe. Nice one Nate.