Turns out that טעם is quite a versatile word. It primarily means taste or flavor:
הטעם הזה של דוריטוס מזכיר לי את הילדות.
This flavor of Doritos reminds me of my (the) childhood.
But it can also mean purpose or point:
מה הטעם, תגידו לי! מה הטעם?
What’s the point, tell me! What’s the point? (spoken to more than one person)
And if it means purpose or reason, why not “by reason of” or “on behalf of”? To say that, add the -מ (from) prefix:
אני מתקשרת מטעם מס הכנסה.
I (a female) am calling on behalf of Income Tax.
(Do I hang up at this point?)
Another way of saying on behalf of is בשם – literally, “in the name of.”
In context:
בשם כל תושבי ירושלים, תודה לך אדוני ראש העיר.
In the name of all of Jerusalem’s residents, thank you Mr. Mayor.
