In the Talmud Berachos 13A, Chazal remark that anyone who refers to Avraham Avinu as Avram violates a negative and a positive commandment. Interestingly, we do not find this distinction in regard to Yaakov Avinu, whose name also underwent a change. We note (in Bereishis 32:29 and 35:10) the Torah states: “Your name shall not always be called Yaakov, but Yisrael shall be your name.” What difference is there between Yaakov and Avraham? While Yaakov’s name was also changed, it had no halachic consequences? We still refer to him as Yaakov. Horav Zaidel Epstein, Shlita, explains that the difference lies…
