Sammy Spider Gets His Hebrew Name

Sammy Spider, a huge stuffed animal and the subject of several Jewish children’s books, spent the month visiting the preschool. “Sammy’s mother told Sammy that spiders spin webs, they do not get a Hebrew name,” Rabbi Bernstein said. But at Temple Torah, “Where every living creature — even stuffed ones — are made to feel special,” it was decided to include Sammy Spider in the naming service. Sammy Spider’s official Hebrew name is Arik Shmuel Ha-Akavish.

“Spiders don’t get Hebrew names, they spin webs,” five-year-old Chaya Bierman said, “but I think he liked getting a Hebrew name.”

“I have done many naming services before,” Rabbi Bernstein said, “but I have never named a spider.””

Excerpted from an article by  in the Florida Jewish Journal