Questions tagged [shemos-sacred-names]
name of God printed in a way that may not be erased
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Difference between רבון and אדון
In the Beracha of Elohai, we refer to God using a number of different descriptives. Towards the end, we give thanks to God as:
רִבּוֹן כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים, אֲדוֹן כָּל הַנְּשָׁמוֹת.
What are some ...
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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, ...
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Pronunciation of YHVH in the Pesel Micha story
The Minchas Shai on Shoftim 17:3 quotes the Gemara (Shevuos 35a) and Maseches Sofrim (4:6) regarding if the names יהוה and אלהים in the story of Micha's idol are holy or not. The Tanna Kama says that ...
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G-d's name on screen readers
People who are blind or hard-of-seeing often interact with computers using devices called "screen readers". These screen readers will read aloud the words that are written on the screen (or in the ...
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Saying "Elokim" when not referring to Hashem
People often say "Elokim" instead of "Elohim" when speaking in order to avoid taking God's name in vain. I have observed, however, that some people always substitute the word "...
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Do you have the right to burn your own books?
There are stories of Rabbis who have composed works only later to burn or otherwise willfully destroy them (Rabbi Nachman and The Kotzker Rebbi come to mind). I would understand if they had these ...
user1520
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Targum of Elokim
The Targum uses yod yod for both Hashem and Elokim unless both are mentioned together. Should the yod yod be understood generically and pronounced Elokim when the chumash says Elokim, or should it be ...
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Erasing shiluv of A-donai H-avai
Some sidurrim (prayer books) have the name of G-d "A-donai" and "Havai" mixed together like this:
י א ה ד ו נ ה י
Is one allowed to erase such a sequence? or is it forbidden like A-...
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Does Hebrew allow for this conception of the pronunciation of the "Tetragammaton"?
Disclaimer: I know no Hebrew.
I'm trying to find out if the Hebrew argument that this article makes concerning the pronunciation of the divine Name is cogent or not. As an outsider they seem to know ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Using Zephaniah 3:8 as a pangram
Would usage of Zephaniah 3:8 solely as a pangram – it being the only option with both finals and cantillation – constitute shemos, and therefore require genizah?
לָכֵ֤ן חַכּוּ־לִי֙ נְאֻם־יְהוָ֔ה ...
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Can one repeat the name of Hashem when reading from the Torah to get the singing note right (meaning unchanged)?
Someone reading from the Torah gets the singing note (trop) wrong for one of the names of Hashem, in a manner which does not change the meaning of the verse. He then does not need to go back and ...
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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 ...
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Tetragrammaton in Public at? Allowed? Not Allowed?
Found a photo of the Great Synagogue of Tunis and emblazoned on the outside of the synagogue, is a very large tetragramaton that is visible for all to see from the street or courtyard. Is there any ...
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Is one allowed to make a shaimos "slot"?
If a shul has shaimos that need to be buried, do they need to dig a new pit each time or can they use an existing pit?
In front of a shul that I saw years ago, they had built a pit, buried some ...
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Name of Hashem in vain
Which name or names of Hashem may not be said in vain? The Mishna Berurah in siman 215 #19 says that the issur is not just the four letter name, but applies to Hashem's other names as well. His ...
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What is the meaning of the tetragrammaton vowelised to read Elokim?
Related to Why is the Tetragrammaton vowelized in Siddurim and in Sefarim?
I noticed in Yechezkel 28 (25) that the tetragrammaton is vowelised to read Elokim.
Now I thought that the tetragrammaton ...
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Limits of pronunciation of the Tetragrammaton
What methods of pronouncing the Tetragrammaton are forbidden?
Can I listen to a live radio show where It is being said?
Can I cause a machine to make Those Sounds?
Can I cause a non-Jew to speak It?
...
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The earliest source that states the disappearance of the names of God in the Book of Ester
IIRC, Abraham Ibn Ezrah mentions in his interpretation of the Book of Ester that:
"והנה אין במגילה הזאת זכר ה', והיא מספרי הקודש?" (How come that God's name is not mentioned in the Book and ...
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Origin of the use of "G-d"
I'm wondering about the earliest uses of the abbreviation "G-d". Obviously, it's used as an extension to avoiding saying Hashem's name in vain, but was this practice common from the ...
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Hanukkah Glass Menorah Drip Tray with Brachos on it
Would it be mutar to place the menorah on a Hanukkah Glass Menorah Drip Tray https://www.amazon.com/Rite-Lite-Tempered-Glass-Menorah/dp/B00PBFBUOO even if the drip tray has brachos on it, or would ...
user24484
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Why does Rashi change a claim of holiness made by his supposed source or switch sources midstream?
Follow up to this question about Bereishit 31:53.
A word from the "eloh" root is used 3 times in that pasuk. In the Artscroll, there is the word "chol" in the margins for 2 of them, which echoes ...
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Which tetragrammaton is more sacred - written in modern Hebrew or paleo-Hebrew font?
In my previous question: tetragrammaton-in-paleo-hebrew-within-hebrew-text-of-tehilim, there is evidence that p.H font was considered more sacred, as the Holy Name was written in it as opposed to the ...
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Tetragrammaton in paleo-Hebrew within Hebrew text of Tehilim
Many scrolls were found (in Qumran?) depicting a regular Hebrew scripture text with the Holy name written in paleo-Hebrew (כתב עברי), like this one:
What Talmudic explanation fits these findings, if ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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Why does the Kohen Gadol say "Hashem" rather than the Tetragrammaton
In the Avoda, the tefilla of the Kohen Gadol begins thus:
וכך היה אומר: אנא השם
While the ineffable name is used at the end of the tefilla, why is the name "HaShem" used to preface the tefilla ...
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How did the knowledge of the pronunciation of the Divine Name get lost?
I have heard that there are, in theory, 22 different ways to pronounce the Divine four-letter Name (Yud Key Vav Key) of Hashem and that the one correct way to say the Name has been lost. How did that ...
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Which Sacred Books Require Burial?
A straightforward question: can anybody please source for me a full discussion of which seforim require burial and which do not. (By way of an example, I have heard it said that a gemara need not be ...
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How is one allowed to say the word "Hashem"?
There's a famous Taz (quoted in Kitzur 6:3) which says that one isn't allowed to say the name of Hashem in foreign languages (So saying/writing B-ga or G-d in vain would be forbidden).
Why would ...
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Name of G-d changing
Is there a Source for the statement that when Mashiach comes the Name of G-d will no longer be יהוה but יהיה ?
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Use of the name Yahu
I recently was shared an article about the new "oldest usage" of the tetragrammaton.
https://biblearchaeology.org/current-events-list/4896-abr-researchers-discover-the-oldest-known-proto-...
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Can One Say Y-A-H Before Doing Netilat Yadayim?
Is one allowed to proclaim the abbreviated form of the name of The Creator “יה” before doing netilat yadayim? Such as saying Hallelu-יה?
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Is there an agreed upon number of names for Hashem or is there no clear answer?
I've read different sources which give different answers for how many names Hashem has.
I have read sources which define the 7 holy names which cannot be erased once written.
I have read sources ...
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Can you say HaShem's name if you are only saying a partial pasuk?
In a question I recently asked here, I was asking about a practice I read (but cannot remember) where the siddur had half of Tehillim 19:9 after putting on tzitzit. It got me thinking: is one allowed ...
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Must all discarded paper with God's name in Hebrew be buried in a genizah?
Discarded books and documents that contain the name of God in Hebrew must be buried in a genizah, and not burned or thrown in the trash.
But what if the name of God in Hebrew is in a Christian or ...
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How to say G-d's names, when reading psukim from targum?
There is prohibition to say G-d's names in vain. Ashkenazim have the practice not to say Hashem's name when reading a pasuk in the gemara or when reading a half pasuk. see here
What about reading ...
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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&...
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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 ...
user3342
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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 "...
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R' Yehoshua and the Athenian Elders: The floating Rav
This is part of a series of questions on the Gemara in Bechoros 8b-9a. Below is a summary of the relevant parts of the Gemara. After being challenged by Caesar, R' Yehoshua went to Athens to defeat ...
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72 Names of God pendants
Is there a problem wearing 72 Names of God pendants? Or unlike the sacred Name of God from the Torah it is allowed? The sacred name in the Torah is YHVH (in Hebrew letters Yud Hey Vav Hey) and as far ...
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Shemos Tattoos?
Scenario: Ploni gets a tattoo which either has a shem or a passuk. He later either becomes a B"T or converts?
Question: What halachot govern this? Can he go to the bathroom? Does that area of skin ...
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Shiluvim and Ashkenazim
In many Edot haMizrach siddurim, the tetragrammaton is printed with kavvanot (called shiluvim) in the final ה. Is it appropriate, according to Ashkenazi poskim, to pay attention to these kavanot?
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The 1080 amalgamations of the tetragrammaton
In the sefer Nefesh HaChaim Gate 1 Chapter 2 in the first gloss (hagah) the author explains that what is meant by God continually renewing the world is the constant reconstruction (amalgamation) of ...
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Is two hundred and ten a name of God?
Is there a name of God (derived through gematria, kabbalah or otherwise) associated with the number 210?
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