Menashe

Menashe is a masculine given name of Hebrew origin. It is a variant of Manasseh, the name of a biblical figure and the eponymous tribe of Manasseh. In the Hebrew Bible, Manasseh is the firstborn son of Joseph and Asenath, and his name is associated with the phrase “God has made me forget” from Genesis 41:51. The name is commonly used in Jewish communities and in Hebrew-speaking countries, often transliterated as Menashe, Menasheh, or Manasses.

In contemporary usage, Menashe is encountered as a given name in Israel and in diaspora communities.

In popular culture, Menashe refers to the 2017 American drama film directed by Joshua Z. Weinstein. The film follows a Hasidic widower in Brooklyn as he seeks to navigate family obligations and community expectations. It stars Menashe Lustig in a largely improvisational performance and is noted for its naturalistic portrayal of Hasidic life and its use of Yiddish dialogue.

Notable people named Menashe include Israeli sculptor and painter Menashe Kadishman (1932–2015). The name appears in various Jewish and Israeli cultural contexts as a form of the biblical name Manasseh.

See also: Manasseh (disambiguation).