Based on the Greek Zoe, Meaning Life, Zissu (Found Mainly in Rumania) and Its French Form

Zissu

ZISSU, ZISSO

Based on the Greek Zoe, meaning life, Zissu (found mainly in Rumania) and its French form Zisso were adopted by Jews as equivalents of the Hebrew Hayyim (life).

Hayyim does not appear as a name in the bible. It is first mentioned in 850 c.e. as a synonym for "Hiyya". Since there was a person called Hiyya (the Aramaic translation of Hayyim) living at the time of Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi in the 3rd century, it is apparent that the name Hayyim in its different forms - Hai, Hiyya, Yihye and the feminine Haya - can be traced to that early period.

The Hebrew word hayyim expresses the essence of life. It first appears in the bible when God creates man out of dust and breathes "nishmat hayyim", the breath of life, into his nostrils (Genesis II, 7).

Hayyim is first mentioned in 850 c.e. as a synonym for "Hiyya". Since there was a Talmudist called Hiyya (the Aramaic translation of Hayyim) living at the time of Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi in the 3rd century, it is apparent that the name Hayyim in its different forms - Hai, Hiyya, Yihye and the feminine Haya - can be traced to that early period.

In the middle ages, it became a popular practice among Ashkenazi Jews to add Hayyim to a given name either at the time of circumcision or, in the event of sickness or danger, later on in life. This was done to ensure health and long life. Among Sephardi Jews, Hai/Chai (alive) is still a popular additional name while Yihye (he will live) is widespread among Yemenite Jews.

In the course of Jewish wanderings, the name Hayyim was influenced by local pronunciation - becoming, for example, Aim or Haym in Spain, Heim or Hayems in Germany and Alsace, Chajjim in Turkey, Hagin in England, etc.

It was translated into Latin as Vives, Vita, Vidal, and into Arabic as Yaish and Ayash. Under German and Yiddish influence Vives became Feives, Feis, Feivush and even Feischel.

It was translated also into Greek as Zoe, Zissu and Zissa.

Distinguished bearers of names in this group include the Rumanian Zionist and author, Abraham Leib Zissu (1888-1956), who was imprisoned for his efforts to organize the mass emigration of Rumanian Jews to Eretz Israel; and Theodore Zissu (1916-1942), founder of the "Negev Group", who advocated the inclusion of the Negev into the future Jewish state, refuting the Peel Commission report on Palestine.