Questions tagged [shemos-sacred-names]
name of God printed in a way that may not be erased
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Is it permissible to erase the name of G-d from an E-reader?
Most people seem to be lenient about shemos on digital screens in general (though Bar-Ilan does avoid displaying the Tetragrammaton.) The letters on the screen are just light, there is nothing really ...
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Pronouncing Hashem's name in a song
Some people are very careful to say Hashem or Elokim when singing a song with one of G-d's names in it so as not to use His name in vain (related question), but I have also been told this is ...
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When blogging/emailing/etc., do I use "God" or "G-d"?
Is there a religious problem with typing out the name: "G-o-d"?
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Is there a halachic problem with the Columbia University seal on the floor of the library?
The seal of Columbia University has the YKVK (G-d's 4 letter name) on the floor of the library. People walk on the seal. Is this chilul Hashem or is there some other halachic problem with this? Does ...
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Saying Hashem's name when studying
I learned somewhere that when you are learning, if you are going to read an entire pasuk without interruption you can say Hashem's name, however if you are going to only say part of the pasuk (for ...
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Should someone tell a Jewish doctor about a tattoo of G-d's name?
Background: I am not Jewish. I have a tattoo containing G-d's name. I have been in the process of removing this tattoo using laser treatment. There seems to be some disagreement on whether or not ...
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Is one allowed to have a tattoo of G-d's name removed?
Inspired by Dan's question , and requested by DoubleAA...
If one got a tattoo of G-d's name, either in ignorance or in spite of the prohibition against tattooing, may one have it removed? Would this ...
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Bringing wallet with benscher into bathroom
If someone has one of the small "pocket benschers" that slide into his wallet, is it a problem for him to walk into the bathroom with his wallet in his pocket?
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Would most Jews deem a tattoo containing the tetragrammaton offensive?
I understand that this question involves a measure of subjectivity, but I am curious to hear people's opinions. I understand that getting a (real) tattoo is forbidden by Jewish law. I also know that ...
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Relationship between wearing a kippa and reciting a blessing
Before I started wearing a Kippa all the time, the people around me and I had the reflex to cover our head when saying the name of G-d or when reciting anything holy.
Since the mitzvah is to wear it ...
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Do photocopies of torah need to be put in shaimos?
Do photocopied sheets (such as chumash or gemara) need to be put in sheimos or can they be thrown straight into the garbage?
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Why is the Tetragrammaton vowelized in Siddurim and in Sefarim?
I've often found that the Tetragrammaton (Shem Havayah) is often vowelized in siddurim and sefarim. Since we b'davkah don't say the Shem Havayah how it is spelled, why are the vowels included?
Also, ...
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(Sort of) Writing the Name of God
I'm taking an Aramaic class, and one of the words that came up in the text I'm reading is "yehuweh," meaning "he will become" (in context, "he will become my successor). It is spelled with the exact ...
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Does braille go to sheimos?
Do things that, when written in print, require placement in sheimos (such as shem Hashem and divrei Torah), need to be placed in sheimos when written in Braille? Would we say that since most people ...
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Bes El or Bes Kel?
There is at least one city mentioned in Tanach named Bes El, written as two words; that name currently belongs to a city in Israel and a number of synagogues and Reform temples. Does that "El" have ...
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Is it permissible for a Gentile to utter Hashem's Name?
I have seen a lot of mention about "Hashem's Name" on this website.
I would like to know:
Is it permissible for a Jew to tell a Gentile what Hashem's Name really is--what I am asking is, say, a ...
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Onkelus translation of Gods name
Why does Onkelus usually translate the name Elokim as Hashem?
For example in the following pasuk (Bereshit 5:1):
זֶה סֵפֶר תּוֹלְדֹת אָדָם בְּיוֹם בְּרֹא אֱלֹהִים אָדָם בִּדְמוּת אֱלֹהִים עָשָׂה ...
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Deleting files containing G-d's Name / taking the host device into the bathroom
Is there any issue regarding deleting electronic files with G-d's Name in them?
Also, is there any issue with taking such a device into the bathroom?
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י-ו as a name of Hashem
Sometimes the letters י-ו seem to serve as a name of Hashem. For example, many authors replace י-ו with טז in a numbering system, presumably so as to not write Hashem's name, similar to replacing י-ה ...
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Heretics in the bathroom
From my understanding a torah scroll written by a heretic has no sanctity and should be burned (Gittin 45b). May one read torah related material, written by a heretic but that contains nothing ...
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What is the function of "Eloheinu" in blessings?
Many blessings open with the familiar formula:
ברוך אתה יהוה אלהינו מלך העולם
In additions, many blessings close with the familiar shorter formula:
ברוך אתה יהוה
Now, we know (Berakhot 40b, ...
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Why do we write the number 16 as tet + zayin? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
How could the numerals יה and יו be used irreverently?
I understand that we write the number 15 as tet vav as opposed to yud hey to avoid writing the shem Hashem, but what ...
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Double Yud as G-ds Name
What is the significance of the double Yud used as a stand-in for G-d's name?
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Pronunciation of God's Name in the Bach
The Bach, writing on the Tur OC 5:1, says that when pronouncing the tetragrammaton (שם הויה) as the שם אדנות, some people say the first vowel as a patach and some as tending toward tseirei. His words:...
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How could the numerals יה and יו be used irreverently?
I was told that in the sequence of numerals with Hebrew letters, the numbers 15 and 16 are rendered with טו and טז instead of יה and יו to prevent the tetragrammaton from being formed irreverently.
...
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When do we say Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo?
I'm somewhat confused on when Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo (ברוך הוא וברוך שמו) should be said after Hashem's name in a B'racha (I'm taking for granted that it is only said in the context of a bracha, but ...
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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 ...
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Dr. Bronner's soap
If you read the label of a bottle of Dr. Bronner's soap you will find--as I was flabbergasted to find--that the very last words are a whimsical English translation of "Shema Yisroel."
Dr. Bronner ...
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Is it permissible to say "Shabbos/Shabbat" in the bathroom?
I once heard or read somewhere that Shabbos/Shabbat is one of the names of Hashem.
1- Is there a source for this?
2- If it's true, can I say "Shabbos/Shabbat" in the bathroom?
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Difference between El and Eloah
El(אל) and Eloah(אלוה) are both singular forms (nouns), but its אל thats being used to form the plural Elim (אלים), and אלוה thats being used to form the plural Elohim (אלוה׳ם). Both singular forms ...
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ALL Names of God
Where can I find an exhaustive list of all of the names of Hashem (preferably שמות and כינוים) in Tanach and elsewhere?
Is this too ill-defined a topic to have an exhaustive answer?
Do the 70 in the ...
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Writing the name chaya
In Hebrew, writing "chaya" with all its letters would result in spelling God's name "ya". Is this okay?
How should it be spelled? With a ' instead of the hay? With a ' between the yud and the hay? ...
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Dropping a phone siddur or chumash
If you have a siddur or chumash on your phone and you drop it, do you kiss it if...
the siddur is not open
the siddur is open, but shem hashem is not showing
the siddur is open and shem Hashem is ...
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ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד after a bracha with a false statement
If we make a bracha levatala or say Hashem's name by accident, we say ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד.
Is this true only if the original bracha is a valid praise of Hashem, or even if it contains false ...
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Seeding free libraries with books with names of Hashem
In my area there are (secular) library boxes like these
The idea is a simple variation on the honor system: Take a book,
return a book.
Someone, generally a volunteer, puts out a roofed box ...
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Why is the hey in Elo-* replaced with a kuf?
As we know when we write Hashem's name, we replace the hey with a kuf. Why davka a kuf? For example: Elokai, Elokeinu, Elokah, or "Yud-Key-Vav-Key". And in "Yud-key-vav-key", why is it pronounced ...
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How/Why do amulets work?
Assuming that kameot (Jewish amulets) do provide some real protection (not simply putting the mind of the wearer at ease) how/why do they work? Meaning, why would writing the various obscure names of ...
user2110
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Was the world created with din or with rachamim?
I remember Chazal saying somewhere that the world could not survive, had it been created with din/harsh judgement/strictness. However, in Bereshis, at the very beginning, it says:
בְּרֵאשִׁית ...
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Should "Shalom" be treated like a name of God?
Inspired by the "This American Life" podcast cited in this question:
I've certainly seen it written (although I cannot recall the exact sources) that "Shalom" is one of the names of God.
Does this ...
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Why "hamokom" in Haggada
Why do we say baruch hamokom baruch hu?
Why that name of hashem here? There are many more names we could have used.
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Boruch Shem Kevod Malchuso L'Olam Voed after saying Hashem's name in error - ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד
When someone says Hashem's name in error, why do we say Boruch Shem Kevod Malchuso L'Olam Voed - ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד?
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Why does the Talmud use the term רחמנא?
When quoting verses, the Talmud often says something like אמר רחמנא - "the Merciful One said..."
What is the significance of this name? Why not use a name like הקדוש ברוך הוא - a name commonly found ...
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Why is one permutation of the name of God backwards?
If you spell out each letter that makes up the name of God, then add up the gematria (numerical value) of each letter of each fully spelled out letter you get various values. The value depends on how ...
user2110
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answer
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Why is it considered respectful to capitalize G-d and its derivatives/pronouns?
I recognize that in English proper nouns are supposed to be capitalized, especially in the case where a proper noun is also a common noun (e.g. the mall vs. the Mall), but only when referring to G-d ...
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Basis for not doing a full sof-aliya trop on Hashem's name
The Ashkenazi leining for the end of an aliya generally has a drop of 4 tones. In my preferred key, that's from D to A (hit y then e on this virtual piano). However, some baalei kriah in my shul do ...
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How should holy objects be buried?
I understand shemos must be buried. Are there any restrictions on the manner or location of burial? (For example — just some ideas off the top of my head — need it be in a container which ...
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Why does God have Moshe use a name the Israelites won't know?
When God sends Moshe back to Egypt from Midyan, he instructs Moshe to refer to God as "Hashem." (Shemot 3:15) When Moshe returns from the task, God reveals that the Israelites (or at least their ...
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Why does Gehazi have no share in the world to come?
The mishna in Sanhedrin 90a lists Gehazi as one of the 4 commoners who have no share in the world to come. I have seen different reasons for this none of which I fully understand.
He mocked the ...
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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 ...
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Explicit shaimos printed in prayer books
The gemara in Shabbos 115b cites a Tosefta seemingly condemning those who publish prayer-books (and amulets) with G-d's name: "...מכאן אמרו כותבי ברכות כשורפי תורה". Nonetheless, it is common practice ...
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