What is "heifetz"

Heifetz is a Jewish surname from Belarus and Lithuania. It derives from Hebrew חפץ (chefets; "delight" "pleasure"). It is unrelated to the similar-sounding Arabic name حافظ (Hafez or Hafiz; guardian, protector). It is also spelled Chafets, Chaffetz, Chaifetz, Cheifetz, Chofets. It may refer to:

• Ze'ev Chafets, American-Israeli author and columnist
• Jason Chaffetz (born 1967), a U.S. Representative from Utah
• Hammond Chaffetz (1907-2001), a U.S. federal prosecutor and partner at Kirkland & Ellis
• Jill Chaifetz (1964-2006), an American lawyer and children's rights advocate
• Israel Meir Kagan (1838-1933), known popularly as the Chofetz Chaim, Lithuanian Jewish rabbi
• Jonathon Hafetz, American lawyer and writer
• Daniel Heifetz (born 1948), concert violinist and founder of the Heifetz International Music Institute (brother of Ronald L. Heifetz)
• Danny Heifetz, American musician, percussionist, grandson of Jascha Heifetz
• Jascha Heifetz (1901-1987), Lithuanian-born American violinist
• Ronald L. Heifetz, American leadership teacher
• Yuri Heifetz, Russian poet and singer-songwriter
• Grigory Kheifets, Soviet KGB agent
• Iosif Kheifits, Soviet film director

Category:Surnames Category:Hebrew-language surnames Category:Jewish surnames