Honorifics For the Deceased

What are all those different letters that I see after the name of one who has died?

Hi!

Thank you for your question!

Yes, one will find different letters, honorifics, following the name of someone who is dead. Very often, the honorifics used will reflect that person’s standing in his lifetime.

The most common honorific, when mentioning someone who was not especially learned or distinguished, is “ alav (aleha) hashalom ” (may peace be upon him [her]) which is represents by the Hebrew letters “ayin” and "hay.” The words “ Hashem yikom damam ,” abbreviated “ hay” , “ yud ,” and “ dalet” , are added to the name of someone who was murdered because they were a Jew.

When referring to someone who was noted for advanced Torah knowledge and/or piety, one says or writes “ zichrono (zichrona) li’vracha ” (may his [her] memory be a blessing) which is represented by the Hebrew letters “zayin” and “lamed.” When referring to someone who was extremely distinguished for Torah knowledge and piety, one says or writes “ zecher tzaddik l'ivracha ” (may the memory of the righteous be a blessing) represented by the Hebrew letters “zayin,” “tzadi,” and “lamed.”

One will often also see “ zecher tzaddik v’kadosh li’vracha, ” may the memory of the righteous and the holy be a blessing, (“zayin,” “tzadi,” “kuf,” “lamed”) or “ zecher tzaddik v’kadosh li’vracha l’chayei ha’olam haba ,” may the memory of the righteous and the holy be a blessing for life in the Next World (“zayin,” “tzadi,” “kuf,” “lamed,” “lamed,” “hay,” “hay”) which are generally only used for the most distinguished, world-renowned rabbinic leaders and Torah scholars.

In the Chassidic world “ zechuto yagen aleinu ” (may his merit protect us), “zayin,” “yud,” “ayin,” is added when referring to distinguished Chassidic leaders and sometimes the letters “ nun” and “ ayin” meaning “ nishmato Eden ” (his soul is in Eden) is added, as well.

Although “ aleha hashalom ” is almost always used exclusively for women, there is nothing wrong with saying/writing zecher  li’vracha  when appropriate.