Questions tagged [shemos-sacred-names]
name of God printed in a way that may not be erased
236
questions
2
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1answer
32 views
Why are the number of blessings in the Amidah linked to Psalm 29?
The Gemoro in Berochos 28b asks about the 18 blessings in the Amidah:
גמ׳ הני שמונה עשרה כנגד מי
Corresponding to what were these eighteen blessings instituted?
The Gemoro offers three ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
Extending the Leg of a Letter to Remove Sheimos
May one extend the letter Hey in God's name to turn it into a Kuf as a way of removing sheimos? My question is twofold:
1) Is there a problem of erasing God's name here, by taking a holy name of God ...
0
votes
0answers
19 views
Why no dot over the letter vav in the name of G-d in Genesis 2:4? [duplicate]
Reading Genesis 2:4, I noticed that the four-letter name of G-d does not have a dot over the letter "vav" as it usually has in other places in Tanakh. Why is that?
2
votes
0answers
33 views
Printing a once-off siddur that would require genizah
I have been asked to compile a booklet containing the Shacharit service for a special occasion. The printed booklets (currently 60 pages long, double-sided 2-per-page, so 15 pieces of paper each) will ...
1
vote
1answer
45 views
Elohim lower than YHWH?
The Zohar contains a reference to Elohim as lower than YHWH (vol. 1, 20a), but what does that mean? Could someone explain to me the plain meaning?
0
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0answers
47 views
The reverse name YHWH not for Adar?
As most of us know, each month has a combination of the holy name YHWH - that's 3 letters YHW times 4 places gives 12 combinations. It is intended to be kept in mind while saying the Brocho of Musaf ...
2
votes
1answer
47 views
Sources and digest about recycling “light” shaimos (e.g. newspaper divrei Torah)
Star-K advises on “shaimos”:
NEWSPAPERS, MAGAZINES AND TAPES
Newspapers and magazines which contain
secular information should not be put into shaimos as they degrade the
real shaimos ...
1
vote
0answers
28 views
אלהים vs האלהים - what's the difference?
Those (Elohim and Ha'Elohim) two are used in different places and both translated as "יי" - G-d. For example (Shmos 18):
"...אֵת כָּל־אֲשֶׁר עָשָׂה אֱלֹהִים לְמֹשֶׁה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵל" - כָּל דִי ...
1
vote
1answer
47 views
Does laser printing “erase”?
Is there any halachical problem with laser printing of divre tora/sheimos?
Because the image of the to-be-printed page appears on the drum, and
transferring the toner on the paper hence "erases" ...
5
votes
1answer
92 views
What name did the Kohen Gadol Say?
On Yom Kippur, the kohen gadol, during the day's service, said a particular name of Hashem. I had always thought that he said the 4 letter name, but in shul, the rabbi mentioned that it was the 42 ...
2
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0answers
57 views
Why does the Tetragrammaton sometimes include the cholam vowel?
Why does the Tetragrammaton sometimes include the cholam vowel ?
The question isn't a duplicate of What are the reasons or rules for the different variations in vowels on the Tetragrammaton?
Because ...
7
votes
0answers
98 views
Sheimos-free versions of Tanach Online
There are many websites that provide the user with the text of Tanach (as well as various other Jewish sources). When printing sources, I like to avoid printing "Sheimos", or actual names of Hashem, ...
2
votes
3answers
94 views
When was the name אדני first used instead of the name יקוק?
From this site we have a summary of the medrash:
As Yaakov nears his demise, the Torah tells us that he wanted to
reveal to his children what was to transpire at the end of days. After
Yaakov's ...
1
vote
1answer
24 views
Does Shalom/“peace” need Genizah?
It is known that Shalom is a name of Hashem, thus it is forbidden to say it as salutation in some places.
And also, to not write it in a letter, because the risk of the receiver throwing it to the bin....
1
vote
0answers
15 views
Do “Shaimot” need to be buried in a certain way or place? [duplicate]
Perhaps, I'm asking an overly trivial question. People in my neighborhood sometimes ask me where they can put their shaimot (holy writings that require burial.) I also see postings on my community's ...
0
votes
1answer
48 views
How can verses from the Torah be written on paper without the paper becoming sheimos?
I often find myself mindlessly doodling psukim from Tanach on paper (especially Tehillim). Is there any way I can do this without making the paper sheimos?
4
votes
0answers
70 views
Saying Hashem's name quickly in Hallel on Sukkos
During Hallel on Sukkos, we shake the lulav during the הודו לה' כי טוב and אנא ה' הושיעה נא. The standard practice I've seen is the one the Mishna Berurah describes there - one direction per word in ...
3
votes
1answer
54 views
When did the use of the substitute word “hashem” start being used? [duplicate]
How ancient is this substitute word? I am not asking for the age of the practice of avoiding the use of the tetragrammaton with Adonai, for example, but specifically the use of this term, hashem.
8
votes
2answers
176 views
How does “Elokim” (“אלקים”) solve the problem?
Please seriously pardon my lack of Hebrew skills.
If "א-ל" is already a shem Hashem (to the point where in many contexts we might say or write "קל" - "Keyl"), how is it OK to leave the א-ל intact at ...
3
votes
1answer
68 views
Erasing the word “eloheinu”?
Can "eloheinu" (written in Hebrew letters) be erased, or is it considered mechikath hashem? I could only find prohibition of erasing "elohim", so I was wondering if this could be similar to writing "...
2
votes
1answer
78 views
List of places where Elokim is written as tetragrammaton
Can someone point me to a list of all places in Tanach where the tetragrammaton is pronounced as "Elokim" (as in, e.g., Yechezkel 28:25)? For some reason, my concordance does not list these under ...
0
votes
0answers
18 views
Question regarding the usage of two of G-d's names in Isaiah 55:7
Part of Yeshayahu 55:7 says:
וישוב אל ה וירחמהו ואל אל-הינו כי ירבה לסלוח
Loose translation - "He shall to return to Adonai and he will be merciful to him and to Eloheinu, for he is abundant to ...
3
votes
1answer
68 views
Not verbally spelling Hashem's names
Where do we find that it's forbidden to spell out Hashem's names?
For example, people will say Yud-Kay - replacing the Hay with a Kay.
Or Yud-Kay-Vov-Kay for the Tetragrammaton.
We know it's ...
2
votes
1answer
126 views
Isn't using God's name as stage name a blasphemy?
I just came to know there's a singer named Elohim
Isn't having God's name as stage name a blasphemy?
5
votes
0answers
73 views
7
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2answers
171 views
Did you fulfill your obligation if you pronounced the Name of G-d differently from your custom?
Would you have fulfilled your obligation to recite a blessing if you pronounced the Name of G-d in a way that was against your custom? For example, if an Ashkenazi has the custom to say "Adonoy" and ...
1
vote
3answers
209 views
Why is the Tetragrammaton unutterable?
Why is it not allowed to pronounce God's four letter name ywvh? Is there a reason for this? Is it such a great taboo as to be unforgivable?
2
votes
2answers
191 views
Can you pronounce Yehuda the way it is spelled?
I heard because there is HaShem's name in Yehuda that I should pronounce it more like "youda".
does anyone know a source for this practice?
4
votes
2answers
1k views
BS"D in the bathroom
I noticed my shampoo says בס״ד on the bottle. Is having it in the bathroom, etc., a problem? (My guess is no, or else they wouldn't put it on there, but still.)
Related: Dr. Bronner's soap
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vote
0answers
45 views
Is Covering G-d's Name Considered Erasure? [closed]
I'm just learning to read Hebrew, and I discovered that the text I use for Kriat Sh'ma al Hamitah contains G-d's tetragrammaton, yud kei vav kei. I'm afraid of accidentally using the Ineffable Name. ...
2
votes
0answers
92 views
Doubled up names of God - pronounce יהו-ה as Elokim
Many times in Tanach, God is referred to as יהו-ה or אדנ-י. Individually, each of these is read as Adonai. However, when those two different names are mentioned consecutively, the custom is to ...
2
votes
0answers
57 views
אדנ-י יהו-ה - Significance to these two names of God used together?
In many places in Tanach, God is referred to as אדנ-י יהו-ה.
For example: David's speech in Shmuel II, 7:18-29 includes seven such references.
What is the significance for God being addressed in ...
0
votes
0answers
34 views
When it comes to desecrating Hashem's names, is printing Hashem's names on paper electronically equal to writing the name by hand on parchment? [duplicate]
Jewish law takes extreme precaution when writing out Hashem's name. We famously have locations for placing old Siddurs and texts in order to keep Hashem's name and word in places of sanctity.
When ...
5
votes
1answer
61 views
How does saying “pasim” help us safely enunciate the name of Hashem?
I'm reading an article about the kesones pasim and birchas kohanim here, and one paragraph had me confused. The article is discussing the portion of the yehi ratzon in which we ask Hashem to act like ...
4
votes
2answers
214 views
Using 'ד for Hashem's Name
Many tallitot have the bracha before putting on the tallit written on the atarah. But as you can see in the picture below, the Name of Hashem is abbreviated as a 'ד when it is usually rendered 'ה. The ...
8
votes
2answers
633 views
Would a Jew violate the prohibition to pronounce the name of YHWH by saying “Yahweh” and/or “Yehowah”?
Based on a previous post that the pronunciation of YHWH as a subject is not disrespectful to be asked here, I hereby ask these:
1.) Are the pronunciation of "Yahweh" and "Yehowah" to be considered ...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
May one leave a paper having G-d's name in a place where it is likely to be descrated?
A few days ago, at the Atlantic Ave. subway station in Brooklyn, I noticed some Chaba"d-oriented segulah pamphlets sitting on the staircase ledge. I took one and notice that it hadTehillim with the ...
4
votes
1answer
42 views
Explain the difference in usage of G-d's name in parshat Balak
It seems that Bil'am refers to G-d using the name אדונ-י but when G-d appears to him, the name אלוהי-ם is used. For example, compare:
Bemidbar 22:8 Bil'am uses יי ; next verse (9) when G-d speaks to ...
3
votes
0answers
122 views
source for using יי (two yuds) as Hashem's name? [duplicate]
When did the use of two yuds becone a כינוי for the שם הוי"ה?
Is this perhaps the two yuds of "יאהדונהי"?
What's the source for using this abbreviation in place of other shemos in davening?
4
votes
0answers
71 views
How far from the correct pronunciations and spellings must one differ to avoid saying God's names?
It's my understanding that there are halachic reasons to avoid saying or writing some of God's Names for no reason. How far from the correct spelling or pronunciations must one deviate to avoid these ...
1
vote
1answer
151 views
Can one throw out a Kipah [duplicate]
Obviously there are certain restrictions as to what one is allowed to throw out and what one must put in שמות.
To what do the laws of שמות apply? Can I throw out a Kipah?
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0answers
106 views
Is “HaGevurah” really a name of God?
I am translating the "Thirteen Foundations of the Torah" (י"ג יסודות תורתנו) from the Qafih ("Kapach") edition of the Rambam's Pirush HaMishnayot. As usual, I run into philosophical difficulties with ...
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vote
0answers
126 views
Saying Hashem instead of Adonoy in a bracha
This question's answer cites a section from the Shulchan Aruch that says you are yotzei if you say "Rachamana" instead of "Adonoy" in a bracha.
What about if you say "Hashem" instead of "Adonoy" or "...
8
votes
0answers
76 views
Can I bury my own sheimos? [duplicate]
If I don't want to pay to have someone bury sheimos for me, is it ok to bury them in my backyard? Is there any procedure that I would have to follow as far as how to deep to bury it or any certain ...
2
votes
2answers
129 views
Explanation of kri u-khtiv vowel for first letter of tetragrammaton
In Kri u-Khtiv, the vowels provided are for those of the Kri. The Kri of YHVH is usually Adonay. The first vowel of Adonay is Hataf-Patah. Why then is the first vowel of YHVH given as Shva in those ...
4
votes
2answers
212 views
Did Jews at the time of the Bavli refer to God as *allah*? A question on Berakhot 56b
In Berakhot 56b, two different reasons are brought as to why seeing a camel in one's dream is a sign of being spared from death. Both reasons are scriptural verses:
Rabbi Hama bar Rabbi Hanina quotes ...
5
votes
1answer
84 views
Is it forbidden to utter the shortened form of HaShem's Name (yod and hey)?
What rulings and opinions are there in regards to speaking HaShem's Name in its short form, namely [pun intended] י, qamatz, and ה?
1
vote
1answer
107 views
Use of the tetragrammaton in other names
One of the most striking things to me about Jewish practice is the reverence shown for the Tetragrammaton and, I suppose by extension, all other ways of referring to the Creator. It occurred to me ...
2
votes
1answer
156 views
Tetragrammaton in Non-Jewish Books
If there was a New Testament in Hebrew and it contained the Tetragrammaton in it, how would you get rid of it? Obviously it cannot be buried next to Sifrei Torah or other Holy works.
1
vote
1answer
112 views
Clear online Shivisi
Where can I find a nice clear online (not a scan or photo of some old document) Shivisi for printing?
