"G-d"

[Aelred_Minor]

I’ve noticed that many Jews prefer to write “G-d” instead of “God”. What I have not noticed is any Jew who was hesitant to pronounce the word “God.” But maybe that’s because most if not all Jews I’ve known personally are Reform or Conservative Jews, and those whose writings I’ve seen, including here, may be Orthodox Jews. Anyway, my question is do Jews who choose not to spell out “God” also not pronounce the word/name, and if so what do you (or they) say instead?

 

[DianJo]

The only reason I can think of is that the Jews believed that if you named something, you owned it/had control over it as in Genesis where Adam is naming all the creatures. God gives him dominion over all the creatures. So, the Jews will not say God’s name because they don’t want to be seen as having control or dominion over God.

They called Him “Lord” and that was a close as they got. I could certainly be wrong on this part. I"m someone else will have more to say about this.

 

[FabiusMaximus]

I’ve noticed that many Jews prefer to write “G-d” instead of “God”. What I have not noticed is any Jew who was hesitant to pronounce the word “God.” But maybe that’s because most if not all Jews I’ve known personally are Reform or Conservative Jews, and those whose writings I’ve seen, including here, may be Orthodox Jews. Anyway, my question is do Jews who choose not to spell out “God” also not pronounce the word/name, and if so what do you (or they) say instead?

My understanding is that Jews held God to be so sacred, that his name was too holy to be written down, and therefore they modified it or used other titles for him.``

 

[JackVk]

My understanding is that Jews held God to be so sacred, that his name was too holy to be written down, and therefore they modified it or used other titles for him.``

That’s why the Jews didn’t spell out YHWH and started referring to Him as The Lord.

 

[beeliner]

I’ve noticed that many Jews prefer to write “G-d” instead of “God”.

Our local reformed synagogue, in its various bulletins and announcements, uses all three letters. Though I’m not sure, I suspect that the local orthodox Chabad uses the hyphen. If so, it’s just a sign of respect, like Catholics bowing slightly when pronouncing Jesus’ name.

 

[AnAtheist]

My understanding is that Jews held God to be so sacred, that his name was too holy to be written down, and therefore they modified it or used other titles for him.``

What I have learned from a former orthodox jew is that they don’t want to erase God’s name or have it destroyed, when the paper it is written on is destroyed or damaged, and thus don’t write it down in the first place.

 

[Kouyate42]

I’m considering conversion to Orthodox Judaism and I’ve been taught that where the name of G-d is to be written down, it should be SAID as ‘HaShem’ (The Name) or ‘Adonai’ (My Lord), or even Elohim (Our God) depending on context.

Indeed, I have a Hasidic Siddur where not even the Tetragrammaton is used. Instead a double yod is used instead. And many synagogues I know will store worn-out and old religious books in a special storage area rather than throwing them away and profaning the Holy Name.

Baruch Atah, Adonai, Melekh HaOlam! (Blessed Are You Lord, Master of the Universe).

 

[Joe_Kelley]

What I have learned from a former orthodox jew is that they don’t want to erase God’s name or have it destroyed, when the paper it is written on is destroyed or damaged, and thus don’t write it down in the first place.

I recall seeing an Ask the Rabbi column some time back on whether one can write the name on a computer screen. He reasoned that one can because the image on the screen is transitory. It is not destroyed; It just isn’t replaced. A nice bit of logic I thought.

 

[Brett1980]

Hashem (meaning the name).

 

[Kouyate42]

I recall seeing an Ask the Rabbi column some time back on whether one can write the name on a computer screen. He reasoned that one can because the image on the screen is transitory. It is not destroyed; It just isn’t replaced. A nice bit of logic I thought.

There’s also a further addition to this argument for being able to write the name of HaShem on a computer screen in that it has been argued that something when placed on a computer, can never really be destroyed completely. It’s almost impossible to actually delete something completely from a computer.

I still prefer to use HaShem though…it seems more respectful.

 

[Ruthyankees]

Being a Jew myself, i don’t write the word out, i was taught that it is out of respect, that G-d is so holy we aren’t to defile the name.