שיפרה

Shifra is an ancient and moving Hebrew name, woven into the history of the Jewish people from the days of Egyptian bondage. The name appears in the Book of Exodus as one of two courageous Hebrew midwives who preserved the lives of Israelite infants in defiance of Pharaoh's cruel decree. Shifra and Puah, these two heroines, risked their lives to save souls, becoming an eternal symbol of moral courage, civil disobedience, and steadfast resistance against tyranny. The meaning of the name Shifra derives from the root sh-p-r, expressing beauty, improvement, and enhancement. The midwife Shifra not only assisted in childbirth but also 'beautified' and restored the infants to their beauty and health. The Sages identify Shifra with Yocheved, Moses' mother, attributing to her qualities of nurturing, compassion, and inner beauty. The name carries the message of continuous improvement, of bringing light and life into the world, and of caring for others. In Jewish culture, Shifra symbolizes unique feminine power - the power of creation, preservation of life, and standing firm against challenges. She represents the woman who does not shy away from tyrannical authority and maintains her moral values despite danger. The name carries a character of inner strength combined with gentleness and delicacy, of courage accompanied by mercy. In recent generations, Shifra returns and renews itself as a name carrying a rich heritage of feminine heroism, faith, and self-sacrifice for the sake of life and justice.

שִׁפְרָה

Shifra | Shiphrah | Shifrah

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Exodus 1:15 - And the king of Egypt spoke to the Hebrew midwives, of whom the name of one was Shiphrah, and the name of the other Puah

In Kabbalah, Shifra represents the power of improvement and cosmic repair (tikkun). The name is connected to the Sefirah of Yesod, which bridges the spiritual and material worlds. Shifra symbolizes the ability to bring divine light into the physical world through acts of kindness and justice, representing woman's role as world-repairer and life-bringer.

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Shifra Horn - Israeli psychologist and author | Shifra Golan - Israeli artist and sculptor | Shifra Friedman - social activist

פועה | יוכבד | מרים | שפרה | שירה