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22 paź 2016 · Z”L after a person’s name means that that person is dead. It is an abbreviation for the Hebrew phrase Zichrono livracha. [Of Blessed Memory.] The feminine form is zichronah livracha. The correct way to pronounce the abbreviation is “zahl.” Jews love acronyms.
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Acronyms — in Hebrew, Aramaic and transliteration — appear frequently in Jewish correspondence, books, spoken conversation and even on gravestones. Famous rabbis are frequently referred to by their acronyms. Even books themselves, like the Hebrew Bible are often identified in this abbreviated manner.
29 kwi 2017 · You’ve probably heard this saying before or seen it (or its abbreviated form, z”l) on a plaque or a donor’s wall, but have you ever wondered what it really means? How many ways can the memory of a person be a blessing? How can a person, either living or no longer alive, “be” a blessing?
In Hebrew, the expression is “zichrona livracha” (feminine), “zichrono livracha” (masculine), or “zichronam livracha” (plural or gender-neutral) and is typically abbreviated as z”l when writing. This serves a similar function as describing someone as “the late [insert name here].”
Shlit”a is short for Sheyikhye L’Orech Yamim Tovim Arukim/Amen (other traditions suggest it stands for Sheyibadeh L’Yamin Tovim V’Arukim), which means “He should live a good and long life.” Both Shlit”a and the honorifics for the dead are typically given after the person’s name, and not before.
The Hebrew transliteration is zikhrono livrakha (m.) / zikhronah livrakha (f.) (Hebrew: זיכרונה לברכה (f.) / זיכרונו לברכה (m.)). It is often abbreviated in English both as OBM and as Z"L.
A shorthand way of writing זכרונו\ה\ם\ן לברכה (zikhronó/á/ám/án livrakhá), which means “may his/her/their memory be a blessing”.
