No matter how many times I write "G-d", the spell-check on the computer has no idea what I mean...
122 Comments Posted
The hyphen has an establised meaning which is incompatable with using it as you do. Use the underscore instead: g_d instead of g-d.
|
You can always add any word you want to your computer's spellcheck dictionary, even one with a hyphen in it. So yes, you actually CAN program a computer to have respect for His name, at least in terms of how you seem to define respect for His name.
|
We have spent many years contemplating the proper treatment of divine names, as this is a subject of much intrest to many of us. Since every culture on this world has had some contact with the divine, and each has assigned a name or title based upon their point of view, it is pointless to debate the true name of the divine, it cannot be bound by any earthly means. Suffice it to say that any name spoken intended to be the name of the divine IS the name, and would draw attention.
|
Also, I believe for english anyway, it expresses the "Infinite" as "Finite" in an "indirect" way.
|
Shalom, Rabbi:
AWESOME Answer to the "logical" question!!!
I loved the comment you gave stating that "G-D created logic and cannot be captured by HIS own creation". I upper-case anything to do with HIM. I have programmed my computer to do so.
For me it is a focus of Love. I Love G-D with all my heart, mind, and strength. And so, my heart is filled with honor, my thoughts are the same toward Him, even when I don't understand what is going on around me, I continue to honor His Torah and His Promises toward me, and my strength will not allow me to tire in doing so.
|
I use Hashem more and more because it solves the computer prob ... but maybe shouldn't because it could get deleted? Let me know ... to the "logical" one .. no one is more logical than I .. I'm a regular Spock sometimes. And have a fairly extensive scientific background .. but what I learned from science is that the explanations for even science change with new data introduction, new interpretations, etc ... and while Wind can be measured - scientifically - we cannot see it. Science doesn't know many things yet .. but I bet when it gets to the point where it does, it will come up with an explanation for G-d .. and it will be logical. :-)
PS - did you believe in anything magical when you were a child? Santa Claus? Fairies? Angels? Love can't be seen but it can be magical and I certainly hope you believe it it ....
|
I feel that the way this question was answered was not a good reply. GOD is not God's name. His name is Yud Hay Vav Hay so that GOD is a euphemism or an alternative word in place of the Sacred Word. Why then trat GOD as if i is holy? I have even seen pernickety people spell L-ord for gosh sake!! Please give us an good explanation.
|
Just Click "add to dictionary" and the spell check never more will ask you what are you thinking.
If you use any "office" software, no matter the OS.
|
I had never given thought about it before, I am a convert, so it was outside the realm of my consciousness. However, twelve years after my conversion, I enrolled in Gratz College (which is actually a non-denominational Jewish college) but I "picked it up" from one of my professors. Later, I witnessed one rabbi write His Name out completely, and making a joke that "see nothing happens". I'm not offended if a person chooses to spell His Name out completely, but the joke was so offensive. I feel that it's one thing to not use the hyphen, but to ridicule the use of the hyphen, totally offensive. It has become part of me, so to speak, i couldn't spell out G-d's name if I tried. Perhaps (as a convert) totally illogical, but, there it is.
|
Why is it that we don't realize that in the Torah, when the creator introduced himself to Moshe, he didn't say "Hello, my name is G-d." He used His ACTUAL NAME! (known as the tetragrammaton) It consists of four Hebrew letters. Isn't that the NAME that we are to keep holy? The English word "G-d" can be used to describe any number of dieties, from zeus to money. I don't think that leaving the letter "O" out of that English word has anything to do with respecting the NAME the creator revealed in the Torah. In fact, weren't we chosen to proclaim His NAME to the gentiles? How do we do that when instead we are reverencing an English word with a different meaning instead?
|
And often half the name ends up on a new line: G-
d.
I avoid that particular problem by writing Gd.
Works like a champ.
Now help me out. I am a proofer at a Jewish newspaper and asked the editor not to spell out the actual name. She said, "Oh, but the hyphen is only for G-d. It's OK to print out the actual name." I tried to say something about what Lubavitch does and she said, "But they know that whatever they write will be treated with reverence, while we are a newspaper and it will go in the trash when people are through with it."
Please write something about not printing the word which is spelled
yud
kay
vav
kay
(and I hope to heaven I have not used the Holy Name in vain by spelling it out) so that those who work at newspapers will understand that this Name, even more than the word G-d (which is just the translation of a label) must be treated with utmost respect.
|
I think you did not answer the question, you just commented on it. The question should have been, "Why do you Jews always write the word G-d, as we non-Jews do smply write it as God? Is G-d His proper personal Name? or has He a real Name that we non-Jews are not qualified to know?" I know that He revealed himself and His Name first to the Jews and the language He talked to Moses was Hebrew not English. Pls help me resolve the issue. I'm sure you have the answer...if only you are willing to give it right. Pls do. Thank you very much.
|
"I feel that the way this question was answered was not a good reply. GOD is not God's name. His name is Yud Hay Vav Hay so that GOD is a euphemism or an alternative word in place of the Sacred Word. Why then trea the wordt GOD as if it is holy? I have even seen persnickety people spell L-ord for gosh sake!! Please give us an good explanation. "
===Speaking a word requires vowels, air, sonics in the formulas of con-sonants. Since it is in vain to name ALHYM, YHWH and use these "names" in a sentence, eliminating the vowel honors a Commandment. ====
|
Driving Force = Matter / Decay
If God is "Driving Force," then Driving Force is one, while matter and decay describes the cycle of reality.
If a human is "Driving Force," then decay is variable, while matter is the flesh. The driving force of a human is the soul. The goal is for humane Driving Force, such that freewill connects us in harmony; otherwise stated for a human to be of God. Reworded, the goal of freewill is to find the meaning of God, and not only know this meaning, but to act in accordance to the will of God. Thus, decay of human flesh always perverts the meaning of God, the Collective Singular that we live in. To disbelieve in God is to deny Torah, or literally to believe that there is no consequence for action.
|
If you spell out G-d's name than you are limited
but G-d's creation is unlimited. Your last sentence was the best answer. Thanks for it and best wishes for your comunity.
Best regards
|
Nobody has answered my question. GOD is not the name of our Lord it is a euphenism or an alternative word but it not The Name. The 10 Devraim says we shall not take the Name of Lord in vain. Andwhat about the gods like Baal and Odin and Thor. Do you spell those gods without the O?
|
Although G-d is not a Hebrew word, it is an English word describing the Creator of the world.
Merriam Webster defines G-d with a capital G to mean “the supreme or ultimate reality: as the Being perfect in power, wisdom, and goodness who is worshipped as creator and ruler of the universe.”
Since those of us who speak English use this word to refer to Him, out of respect, we do not write it out in full.
|
I count Odin and Thor in my direct paternal ancestry and I suggest posthumous deification occurred. Does Paul Bunyan ring a bell? King Wittekind son of Odin, another of my paternal ancestors was a Norse Pagan and forced into Christian conversion after Charlemagne executed possibly 4,000 of his men at Verdun. Anyone who has studied mythologies of other cultures understands that most "gods," were actual people, having an actual day of birth and a day of death. King worship is common to Jewish history as well. It may be an area of confusion in popular thought. Check out the book Antiquities of the Jews (Flavius Josephus) for examples of king worship of David son of Boaz.
|
I do not believe the creator would have this view. God is our father in heaven and we do not call him by his name, but by his position as the eternal creator.That positional name is God. His truly devine name is something else and too sacred to use if we knew it.
|
This is what Euhemerus the Greek said. I am probably misspelling the name but I do not want to go look it up.
It's a cute theory but it is highly unlikely that worship of deities started in any such way. On the contrary, worship of the Divine came first and then earthly kings sought to mimic Divine power. The very word for "king" may have originally indicated a specifically Divine power which had become accessible, to a far lesser degree, to earthly kings.
|
I think you misunderstood. I do not understand how what you write beyond your third sentence refutes me.
My suggestion is that people worshiped Odin after his death when polytheistic mythologies were generated in Norway. In fact, several people in my line had the same deification lie generated, such as Beowulf, Thor, and Zeus. Likewise, I want no generation of a lie that I am a deity either, as it is possible people are already calling me "Lord Chaos" in internet mythologies, as "chaos Craig" was my nickname years ago (Internet Book of Shadows).
|
*Names
*Origins of gods
About a thousand years ago, the question arose--is it OK to write the French word in a letter to a friend or kin or colleague or to anyone? The French word was and is spelled with a D, followed by an i, an e, and a u. That was the French word for Deity. The answer came back, Do NOT write it, for such a letter may easily wind up on a dung heap. We do not want to cntaminate a Divine Referent with dung.
That applies to Gd and Lrd too. No more chitchat about these beng lesser words. It doesn't matter that they are lesser; what matters is that we all know they refer to HaShem, and they are NOT euphemisms such as HKBH. They are, in a very real sense, names.
The next question: the historical record of the oldest writing in the world, ancient Sumerian, indicates that the first gods they mention were the god of the river, the earth goddess, the coppersmith god, the goddess of weaving, etc. NOT the king or any other dead man. That came much later.
|
i totally disagree because when I write God the computer has it programmed and when i wrote G-d the computer had it programmed and when i went to the thesaurus on the computer another word for G-d was God meaning heavenly divine and creator of all things maybe its just the kind of program you use> do you think so??? respond back please
|
That the author attempted to show respect shows good intent. He has greater righteousness than that person that paid attention to spell check. It is likely that any attempt to show respect to the divine Name that gains popularity is likely to receive recognition by a computer program. However, I would say that since we now know that G-d is in some spell checkers, I would say, “Spell check should be ignored when considering respect to the Name.” Upon analysis of writing, we will simply know the meanings of various forms of respect.
|
Why Don't You Spell Out G-d's Name? He said not to use it in vain, He didn't say not to use it.
|
According to Shulchan Aruch Harav, OC 85:3, vernacular appelations unique to the Godhead (i.e. in other languages - like the English "God"), have halachic validity and sanctity in ORAL form but not in written form - thus when written out may be erased!
|
To the person that wrote why do we use G-d and that it does not come up on the computer.. Why don't you use His name? Type in what is the name of God and you will get an answer.
|
I just do not understand why should there be a discussion or inviting the visitors to post a comment on whether to write His name or not. It is left to individual beliefs and practices. everyone has the liberty to express his views and beliefs.
|
~search results~
660,000,000 for God
127,000,000 for Craig
92,100,000 for G-d
2,580,000 for chabad
By those rules, I would say, "Even if I post my name, God, and or G-d it ends up in the same place." nych nych nych nych
|
I feel it is disrespectful to God to spell His holy name the way you do. I read your reasoning but I truely cannot understand it although I do respect it.
|
The reasoning behind writing G-d makes perfect logical sense.
It is a sign of utmost devotion to protect the written word writing it in a way so that the true name has no chance of being defaced (because it is not written as the true name). Its a placeholder for what everyone knows is the true name or word and so in the written context everyone knows what is meant & read.
Think of it as embedding different thoughts or care into a word just because of the way its written.
Similar contemporary examples of embedded meaning in written text would be like all caps for yelling (NO), LOL or the famous emoticon =)
|
I appreciate the idea of using G-d instead of spelling it out even though it is just a substitute for his name. I've always maintained that people using watered down curses are still cursing because the intended meaning is the same regardless of what word you are using. Using "G-d" is a means of respecting His name in all ways, even it the specific word is just a substitution
|
I am one that is trying to find the only true creator of the heavon and the earth. I read in my bible it say "Those that call upon my name I will hear".
|
I am an atheist like the question proposer, but I thought I may help: Microsoft's Word and many other programmes that you may be having trouble with, will happily accept a hyphen that cannot be translated as a new-line hyphen by pressing CTRL+Shift and _ (the underscore character).
|
Thank you for an excellent article.
|
Why did you search chabad.org if you are an athiest?
|
Dear Ben, Kew gardens is a wonderful park in London, you should have a walk there and think about G-d.
|
very powerful article. well written!!
|
Why did you search chabad.org if you are an atheist?
An open mind requires that one not be a theist.
|
I have asked several questions recently and none have been answered. I hope I have not offended anyone, since I truly desir to learn and ot hear your answer. Another one: If you do not spell the name of G-d, then how do you pronounce it? Do you say "God", or do you say "The Name", or Jehovah, YHWH, or what? How do you pronounce it when you speak of Him???
Thanks in advance
|
The only name that we never pronounce is His four letter name. In ordinary conversation it is replaced with HaShem—literally, “the name.” In prayer, it is replaced with Ado-nai. His other Hebrew names are generally reserved for prayers and other special times. In ordinary conversations other designations for the Creator in Hebrew, English or Yiddish are generally used.
|
Let's add also that the J or Y is NEVER used - only by the High Priest on Yom Kippur in the Temple Service. Serious offense to pronounce those as ir represents the "essential Name" (known as Tetragrammaton).
|
Most word processing software gives you the option of either using a custom dictionary or adding a new word to the existing spell check dictionary. Right click on the highlighted word that offends spell check and a dialog of options is displayed. If you can't add "G-d" then look to the software's manual on how to add a custom dictionary then simply copy the old one add "G-d" and use the new dictionary. Voila! You've taught your computer to respect G-d's name!
|
I love your explanation of G-D going above and beyond intellect. I'm also hoping the guy that said he wasn't a believer is listening to his heart after reading your last statement! G-d really will answer you if you ask him to help you get beyond the logic. I can't imagine how lonely that must be...I NEED His love, His promise of eternity, His peace that is so indescribable but so amazing when He fills me with it through any trial I am walking through! He is there with me always!
|
Right on!
with a high five!
|
You sais this, in the last article: "Jewish faith is about getting in touch with the soul that knows G-d already, without needing any proof. This is not negating intellect -- it is transcending it.How do you get in touch with your soul? Ask G-d. He'll tell you."
I was wondering if you could tell me how holy God is? Is He holy? Is He soverign? What is His attitude toward sin and fallen man? Does he 'wink' at sin, and just turn His back, for some but not others?
Also, how does one "Know God already'??
Thanks. I've been thinking about this.
|
I hope I spelled it right. My eyes aren't what they used to be.
Gd is absolutely holy and sovereign.
and Gd loves you. And all of us.
And if we sin deliiberately, and mean to keep it up, we may find ourselves unable to repent.
But if we are truly sorry, and try to mend our ways, Gd always forgives.
And always keeps loving us regardless.
And yes, terrible things happen to innocent people and nobody can explain it. No rabbi can explain it, and neither can I.
But Gd's love means so much to me that I have to assume that Gd know what Gd is doing. Even when to me it looks horrific. And the Holocaust looks horrific. So did Darfur. So does what's doing on in the world today.
Tio know Gd, pay attention to your dreams. If a man in any dream is loving in a jolly, joshing sort of way, keep that image. Review it when you waken. Imagine joshing him back,lovingly. Accept the joshing and the love that goes with it.
Visualize that dream every day.
|
"I only believe in things that can be logically proven."
Gödel proved that there are an infinite number of true things that can not be proved with logic.
So now that I have logically proved that logic can not prove everything. What does that leave for your statement?
Mathematics has the concept of "axioms": statements that are considered to be true, but that can not be proven. Entire worlds are built that depend on whether or not a specific axiom is considered true or not. The worlds are all self consistent, but there is no way of proving one is correct, and the others wrong.
The axioms are foundations for a tremendous amount of facts, but the axioms themself can not be be proven using those tools. You must go above the mathematics.
|
Aron Moss this is a wonderful article and a great answer to a question that seems to be generated from a "computer" ;) To be an atheist is to be dogmatic about your belief without proof. G-d cannot be disproved or proved. Agnostics are honest but it requires faith to be an atheist.
|
Umm...I have "Pages" on a Mac and it recognizes the word God just fine. Perhaps you need to switch to Mac?
|
So why don't you just write Yaweh? G-d sounds so blasphemous
|
I loved it when you said, "Ask G-d, He'll tell you." I used to not do that, then, one day, I heard this Presence inside of me say, "Sharon, why don't you ask me to heal you."I was suffering from sinues a lot (as I had all my life). I thought, "Where in the world did that come from?" I began thinking and saying, "That is really stupid. I have sinus problem." Again, this Presence inside me said, "Sharon, why don't you ask me to heal you?" Well, finally, I did; and He did Do I hear voices? No, it is not like that. I can be lost in my own thoughts, doing something, even talking, and I feel this gentle wave of energy actually move from about the area where I carried my children. I can actually feel this wave of energy move up. It replaces my thoughts with His. You have heard the expression, "from out of the blue." Well, I would have to say, "from out of my belly." I just know it to be true. Shalom,
|
Your computer may not respect G-d but you can make it accept G-d. Just add G-d to your word processor's dictionary.
|
I can see your point in showing respect in this way but would have thought that the God of religion is above being "misprepresented" or erased on such a technical device as a computer. As long as us human being are respectful to our deity and each other, nothing else can bring harm. G-d bless.
|
You too?
But I only had it "for sure" and "clearly" once.
Other times it's just an energy w/o words.
You are blessed.
Meanwhile, some people's theology says that Gd is immune to what humans do.
But Jewish theology holds humans responsible for possible harm done to Gd, or to Gd's ability to help humans, when the Divine Name (THE Divine Name, not just "any" name people use for their gods) or other Divine reference such as Gd and LRD, are misused.
I knew the importance of respecting Divine names instinctively when I was six or seven years old and had never even read the Bible yet. Maybe I misused a Divine Name in a previous Gilgul (incarnation), but from the moment I learned to write I KNEW. Just KNEW. That it is truly VERY important.
|
I have to disagree with your position that omitting the "o" in God's name is a sign of respect. I believe that it is in fact disrespectful. Though I am in no way equating myself with the almighty, I would not appreciate someone omitting a letter in my name when discussing me.
Also, I believe God is bigger then the internet. In fact, God is bigger that any form of text. In fact, God is bigger than man's ability to fathom. As such, choosing to omit a letter for fear that someone could erase it is pointless.
In fact, I would say you are vandalizing his name preemptively. So, in the entire content of this website, you have never actually mentioned God properly.
|
I understand your intention. In my thought, I am not able to disrespect G-d because that entity is far greater than I am.
I did not come to your web page to tell you how I relate to G-d but to understand better how you relate to G-d and because I respect G-d, I also respect you and your opinion.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts with me.
|
Thank you for explaining. I apprecatiate you helping me to understand. I also RESPECT the fact of how much you respect His name when it gets thrown around so disrespectfully by so many. I love the reverence of HIS NAME. Thank you again
|
G*d ?
I bet your dictionary would accept that ;-)
|
I only read this because I had never seen the spelling G-d. I believe it was also through curiousity I was first drawn to G-d... I am writing because I want you to know I was touched, Rabbi, by your very mention of G-d. I am grateful that G-d used the evidence of His craftmenship in His people to draw me unto Himself. G-d has led me to pray for His people, and through Him I love them.
|
I still think that it should be spelled with the o. Nothing against you, just think it should.
|
I do appreciate. And thanks for the information, I really respect and reverence G-d. Thanks again for that important information. As of today I will be more careful with G-d's name.
|
See, I think the problem here is that by writing "G-d" you are placing reverence still on the same thing. "G-d" and "God" both are references to the same creator.
In fact, I think that "G-d" is somewhat demeaning to God. Like shortchanging him the name that he told us to refer to him by. If he wanted to be referred to as "G-d", that is how it would have been written, and commanded. To write "G-d" looks like just another one of man's practices that is only worldly, and was just made up one day.
|
These letters can also represent the euphemishm "god-dammit". How do you get around that? And what about the fact that in Ezekiel the statement "“‘And YOU people will have to know that I am Jehovah," appears so many times? How can you know it if it's never used?
|
every time I hear someone curse and say G-d then the damn word I say to myself and sometimes reply G-d does not have a last name you idiot. There ought to be a t-shirt that just says that. When will people get it that HE is a HOLY G-D. I guess you can tell this comes from a Christian and I take it personal when someone talks about our creator that way. He gives LIFE and LOVE.
|
To all those who responded to this issue: When you refer to God or G-d in your writings, it is not to be criticized because it is a personal issue between the writer and the Father.
It is their own expression of worship to Him.
We can express how we like in our writing, so why can't he?
|
Some Orthodox practices are not my cup of tea. But I do appreciate the reason for the use of "G-d."
Iit has psychological value in maintainining our respect for Him/Her. It makes it more likely that, when we *do* invoke that Name, it will have a powerful effect on us. Not to be irreverent, but that's the same reason why, in Victorian times, a woman baring her ankle drew men's attention -- it was not done all the time.
Also, in the Bible, as in many ancient cultures, a name is not just a name but has a mystical power of its own. That's why Abram became Abraham, Sarai Sarah, and Jacob Israel, after their defining encounter with G-d. That's why a Jew has not only a secular but also a Hebrew name. Some non-Jews also still do this today -- for instance, a Catholic woman, if she becomes a nun.
I assume that Rabbi Moss' concern about the inability to get a computer to relate to G-d was written tongue-in-cheek. After all, the computer doesn't malfunction when we write "love" or "freedom."
|
Since the original Biblical Hebrew language has no vowels, how can a Jew express a name for God using vowels? I have been told no one now knows how God's name was stated verbally in those days.
|
Hebrew *does* have vowels. They aren't written because it is assumed that the reader will know what they are. The only problem is that we don't know *which* vowels were used in G-d's name.
" With or without the "o," the word is a product of the *English* language. The ancient Israelites never heard or used either of them. So the issue of being true to the original Hebrew doesn't arise here.
|
As always, I like your answers Rabbi Moss. they are so clear for those who know and so clear for those who are still looking and searching. If I should come one day to Sydney I have to visit your community and the Opera House and all the beauty of your Contry. Many greetings from Europe where we have had direct greetings from G-d talking through the volcano of Iceland.
|
I think its disrespectful to do that to the lords name. as your name is spelled correcly so should his be. and it just looks disrespectful. what if someone was reading for the first time and your idea gave them the idea to start writing or typing the lords name like that because they think its okay now. im just saying the way it looks is like you have something to hide. that may not be the way you intend for it to look, but that is just the way it seems.
|
I know people who write "G!d," with an exclamation mark instead of a dash, in order to express their joy and wonder at the greatness of G-d.
|
I like seeing G-d's name written this way as it reminds me how much respect Judaism gives to His name.
It's odd to see Melissa thinks it's disrespectful to spell G-d in this way yet she doesn't even capitalize 'Lord' when she uses it in written form. I find that disrespectful.
|
My Rav teaches that hyphenating the English word "God" when referring to you-know-Who is unnecessary. It has no actual holiness.
On a humorous note, there is a woman who is widely known because of the hyphen in her name: La-a, pronounced "La Dash-A" because she actually pronounces the dash! In that event, you might be writing the name Go Dash D, which rhymes with Vashti!
|
The computer doesn't mind to have the word of 'G-d' in its own dictionary - if you just put it in yourself : - )
|
I usually do write out the English word for G-d's name, or G-d's title: L-rd, because I believe that the English word is not G-d's actual name, since no word exists in any language that can truly be G-d's name. Also, I try not to refer to G-d as a male or a female, since G-d is G-d, not a plant or an animal.
|
Here's what I think...
Lines represent letters,
Letters form words,
Words bring meaning only through social learning.
Although the symbols represent ideas; it doesn't mean that the symbols are the ideas.
So when people who might misuse the name G-d with vile intentions... what they are doing, is using the symbolic communication -- but they are not using the ACTUAL word. (which MUST be said with reverence to hold it's meaning)
It's similar to having a word with two meanings. And I can see that by spurning a 'lower meaning', you are practising focusing solely on the system of your belief and attempting to spurn all that which might not be holy.
|
I am currently in the process of conversion. I have a Sephard edition of the Artscroll Siddur and it spells out G*d with an O. What is going on here? I know that we shouldn't spell out the J word. But is it really clear about G*d?
|
The actual NAME with the Y or the J is NEVER written out.
Other words, such as Gd and Lrd, are written out only in Bibles, prayer books, and other places where reverent treatment can be expected.
I have here several scholarly books on religion or on history, written by observant Jews, in which the word Gd is not spelled out. And it is not spelled out in letters or notes or anything typed or written by hand, or on the computer.
But these words, not being the actual NAME, certainly ARE spelled out in a Siddur or Bible.
Does that help?
|
The Oral Torah, in a medieval respopnsa, specifies that we should not say, or write, the French word... well it sounds much like the English word ado, and it has the French word for "Gd" in it.
This applies to English too, of course, and any other language.
The only time to use words in any language that mean "Gd" is during prayer. Otherweise we use euphemisms such as HaShem ("the Name"), or The Holy Blessed One or The Eternal or even HaVaYaH. These are often heard in Orthodox communities. The even write in chatrooms using HKBH for short (HaKadosh Baruch Hu, which is The Holy One, Blessed be He). Some nowadays use HaKadosh Baruch (as above, the Holy Blessed One) to avoid gender bias.
|
Thank you for your response. Does the same hold true for a prayer shawl? I would expect G-d's name to not be spelled out - but then using your logic (which makes much sense) G-D spelled out without a hyphen is okay. Is this correct?
|
I do not understand your question. Do we treat the tallit with respect? Yes, because of the fringes, which Gd commanded in order to remind us to be faithful to Gd's mitzvos. It does not have the Holy NAME written on it, however. The tefillin do contain parchments with biblical verses, including the Holy NAME, and must be treated with the kind of reverence due to a Bible or perhaps even that of a Torah scroll.
Btw, I learned the hard way that using two caps (GD) makes some nonJews think that the G stands for Gd and that the D stands for a swear word. So if you are posting in a nonJewish public forum and want to use it, explain it first, and you may still find that some are offended by their own take on it. To avoid this, try using "the Deity" or even, after an explanation, "HaShem". Some people are quick and adaptable and will start using it with you, out of respect. Others won't.
Finally, the word shawl suggests an old woman selling apples on a cold day.
|
We only do not spell out the name when writing it in places where it may be discarded or otherwise disrespected. The siddur, however, is a sacred object that is is carefully stored and treasured. As such, it is a fine home for His name.
Please let me know if this helps.
|
Thank you Hanalah. You answered this one fully for me. May The Blessed One be with you always and your family as well.
Shalom
|
Word processing software usually has the mechanism to make a hard dash rather than soft hyphen. In WordPerfect, it is <Ctrl>dash, and I'm sure MSWord has a way to do it also. So, G-d would be G, then hold down the <Ctrl> key while you tap the dash, then type the d. If you can do this in a word processor program, it might hold together by cutting and pasting into an online communication.
|
I no longer use God or G-d, but Goad. Goad is much more descriptive than G-d. Everyone that concieves of G-d has his or her own idea of what G-d is, and they not only vary from religion to religion, but even among followers of particular religions. Let's be frank. Goad is an Almighty and Universal motivator. Goad motivated the universe into being. Goad motivates us to be ethical and Goad rewards us and punishes us according to the Goading we recieve from Goad. We could even consider ourselves to be imitating Goad if we do some of the motivating ourselves.
|
So... youre trying to tell us that either your pc does not accept g-d's name, or that pcs are unable to believe in g-d?
Is this a technical, or philosophical question?
I think you are confusing the issue on purpose.
First of all, you say that a pc is limited to logic. While this is obviously true, isnt it also true that the universe is created to a set of rules?
Creation has its roots in order. This is why the creation has been stable up until now.
You also say pcs arent capable of grasping the spiritual or divine. This is a matter of time and technology.
Did we not swear the world was flat not to long ago?
A metaldetector that can only detect metal? True, if it is set to metal. It can detect various substances, and only technology limits its capabilities. Again, time will tell if we will ever be able to grasp the ethereal with machines.
How to get in touch with your soul? Ask your c-mputer. Because, given enough time, he may actually answer.
|
You know for claiming not to be a believer, you sure show a lot of respect. But, why respect something if you don't believe it exists? If GOD doesn't exist then He is not the creator. Then we are not creations. Then the Bible isn't truth. Then heaven and hell don't exist. Logically if God doesn't exist, then we all end up in the same spot. However, if God does exist and your logically thinking doesn't accept Him (making you a believer (which I think you are)) then where does that place you. It sounds it would be logical TO accept Him. Yet, He can only be accepted by faith. There is no logic in faith. That's the beauty of faith.
|
And you'll see how your computer (you must mean Office Word) miraculously accepts G o d.
|
I can get omission of the letter out of respect for the people around me. There is no reason to cause offense when there is no need. But I cannot get this idea of desecration of a piece of paper that the name is written on. That just seems like so much magic to me. However, if you were to tell me that it's a hermeneutic issue, a question of interpretability, of the fact that every written word can be interpreted and thus changed, then I can get the reason for creating a non-interpretable version of the name, to point out that the deity is unchangeable and, ultimately, uninterpretable to us. Is that what it is really all about.
On another note, with respect to the aqpproach of the article, this fideistic response to the question of a non-Jew is, in my humble opinion, disrespecful to the non-Jew. The writer did not ask for apologetics of the faith but for an explanation of a practice. Faith is not illogical.
|
First of all, I want to thank you Rabbi Aron Moss for respecting our Lord G-D even if you are a non believer, Which I do not believe that you truley disbelieve, But I am not to judge you, and neither are you Mr.Ingram. again thank you Rabbi for having great respect!! Mr. Ingram What is it that you believe?? Jest wondering!!!
|
if his name was printed and landed on the ground and someone stepped on it I douobt seriously if God in all his greatness would consider that defaming his name unless it was done intentionally.....
|
Perhaps, we should not write G-d for every time we permutate the name of G-d it becomes less close to the original. There are a few names of G-d that have been lost. I seem to recall a 70 or 72 letter name of G-d mentioned in the Talmud that was uttered by the High Priest that has since been lost.
|
I am a non-believer. I have even taken the word "atheist" out of my vocabulary because the meaning of it assumes that there is a god. That said, I respect the opinions and religions of others. I started reading chabad.org because I have a colleague who is Jewish and just celebrated Hanukkah. I was curious about the meaning of the traditions and stumbled upon this article. I respect Rabbi Moss' explanation of the question asked. But, I don't understand how a line written so long ago, by scholars, could have the same meaning for people now. Wasn't it true that only a few people could read and write thousands of years ago? How would that "rule" even be applicable to people who use the computer?? After reading all that I have about this subject, I have come to my own conclusion. I believe that this "rule" was meant for medium that was printed in the day. Mainly, holy works and synagogal papers. Thank you for listening.
|
Thousands of years ago people who couldn't read and write were tutored in the basics of laws, philosophy, and religion by those who were taught by the sages of the day. Today perhaps even more than back then people still are disconnected from the highest tenets of thinking and learning. Pedagogy has given way to google and something has been lost in the rush for a quick buck and a quick read: conscious acceptance in a higher power and a common rule of law handed to man so we might help each other while helping ourselves not only reach spiritual salvation but unity and peace.
|
I'll go by what God told Moses, "name you tell them I have no name I am who I am" mankind has given "Abba" all kinds of names, but in the Bible he tells you have only one father i.e. "Abba" and that I believe and stand on for eternitiy,,,
|
Most text systems consider a hyphen to be a word boundary and a valid point at which to break a line when flowing text. However, this is not always desirable behavior, especially when it could lead to ambiguity (such as in the examples given before, where recreation and re‑creation would be indistinguishable), or in languages other than English (e.g. a line break at the hyphen in Irish an t‑athair or Romanian s‑a would be undesirable). For this purpose, Unicode also encodes a non-breaking hyphen as U+2011 ( ‑ , coded for by ‑). This character looks identical to the regular hyphen, but it is treated as a letter by word processors in that the hyphenated word will not be divided at the hyphen should this fall at what would be the end of a line of text; instead, the whole hyphenated word either will remain in full at the end of the line or will go in full to the beginning of the next line.
|
I always wondered why you don't spell out HIS name. Now I know. Amazing article!
|
Wow! Thank you so much for this explanation. I always wondered about this, now I know and understand...Thank you
|
"treating G-d's name with reverence is a way of giving respect to G-d ."
Fair enough .
The english word 'god' is not a sacred word , more a generic word from germanic paganism . So individual deities were called 'Woden' or 'Freya' , but were all 'gods' . Calling G-d 'god' is an improvisation that came in with monotheism . It could be argued that it is not a name .
|
I too wondered why. Now that I understand, it doesn't matter what my eyes see, it's my soul which translates.
|
At least in order to get rid of the breaking-the-name-in-half problem, most word processors allow you to insert what's called a "non-breaking hyphen" into a word. In Microsoft Word, for instance, if you go to Insert Symbol and go to the "special characters" tab, it's usually pretty high up on the list. Use this character instead of the regular hyphen in G-d, and you'll never have to worry about it breaking the word again.
I've always used the shortcut key Ctrl+Shift+- to be able to quickly insert it while typing on the go rather than having to open a menu each time, but I can't remember if that's a default shortcut or if I set it myself.
|
The Ctrl+Shift+- shortcut is a default. However, you probably need something different on a Mac. Either way, thanks for the tip, Daniel.
|
Your explanation is wonderful.
Thank you so much for it.
I know HIM and love HIM with all that i am.
|
Daniel's solution is sound for Word documents only on Windows PCs. The default shortcut IS Ctrl + Shift + - . But this key combination is treated as distinct keyboard shortcuts in different applications. In addition, when you attempt to publish to the web, the non-breaking hyphen becomes invisible!
If it's visually acceptable, you may consider using the UNDERSCORE ( _ ) which is treated as an integral part of the word. G_d will not break at then end of the line; and the spell checker will accept G_d's word and add G_d to its everyday dictionary.
I hope G_d has shed some light over the usage of His name.
|
Whatever!
If you use HIS NAME use it with a purpose. HE IS our CREATOR whether you are Jew or gentile. GOD IS Love and HE IS the same yesterday today and forever.
Be true to HIM and to yourself.
To the people who talk about other gods.....there is no other god or gods.
|
What difference does it make how you write God's name? If you regognize "G-d" as a name representing God, then if that name is erased it would essentially be the same as erasing "God". Isn't this really a question of perception? If you percieve a word to represent God, then it represents God.
Legally, most states have laws that allow a person's "mark" to stand for their signature regardless of their name, because you believe it to represent you in some way. Thus, it is irrelevant what anybody's name actually is if there is some other kind of identifier.
Based on the origianal author's logic and the American legal system, writing ANY name (including G-d) identifying God would leave said entity "vulnerable" to erasure or other disrespect.
|
Does your G_d not teach you about respect for others' beliefs? Did you not learn from every other major racial incident in the history of this world? Be more tolerant towards others, and we might have a better future for mankind after all.
|
I'm glad to know why you don't spell out G-d and I respect that. I am not Jewish, but the G-D of Abraham Isaac and Jacob is my father and I love him with all my heart. I call him G-D in revenant fear out of respect. He knows our hearts. Thank you
|
That explanation doesn't make a lot of sense to me but whatever you believe , you believe. No one can erase anything. God doesn't need OUR protection....He is God ") So whether you hypnenate His name or not makes no difference in the grand scheme of things. I happen to be Christian and when we write the Lord's name, we spell it out. When you hyphenate it in print, it seems like you are spelling out a dirty word that can't be said. I always call God "God" no matter how it appears in print. God doesn't need my protection against erasure...I need HIs. ") Peace to all.
|
The word of God was firstly written in scrolling books. Can u tell us the way the title "GOD" was written? Bcoz scrollings are subject to be burned, erased or teared apart! Would u also tell us in which materials ur hebraïc's bible are written? But frankly, i don't see no where in ur law where it is written that the title "GOD" should not be written in places where it can be discarded or erased unless you let us know!
|
Most spell checks these days have dictionaries where you can teach it the way you want something spelled. It usually asks if it should "learn" the word. or "add to dictionary." You should even be able to "teach" it that if it "sees" a spelling or even a symbol (if gd=G-d) that it will put in what you want (even if "kw" substitute G-d). I'm not even certain that this post is even relevant anymore, but eithe way, I enjoy reading this site.
|
I read this about 7 years ago and loved the meaning!!! This today is the only way I spell out G_d, just comes natural now. So many people have asked me through the years the meaning and I love sharing it. Too each his own, but I personally love it.
|
I dont understand why my comment back in sep. did not spelling out the word GOD.I know I spelled it out because that is what i say. But anyway why are you so angry at people just because because we don't see eye to to eye on this matter? If your honoring GOD and its not against his written word of truth then that is between you and God. Each one will stand before God on judgment day.
|
My opinion is that the reason there are no written vowels in Hebrew is because it keeps the language and writings safe from people not in the tribe. In most ancient cultures it was considered a magical art to "spell" and read. You must be initiated; the bar mitzvah shows that you speak the language and know what the vowels are.
The vowels are indicative of the way one shapes the mouth while the air passes through the mouth. How one "breathes" the word. The breath is sacred. G-d breathed the breath of life into Adam. There are traditions where one *cannot* "say" the name, one can only "breathe" the name. It's not that one shouldn't; one simply can't. (That these traditions also "breathe" -in their own language- "I am" or "I am he," "I am [g-d's name]" etc, is akin to "I am that I am" don't you think?)
It is awesome to realize that our culture insisted "Only if you are literate can you be one of the tribe." A nation of magicians we must have seemed. With an awesome deity. Ask Pharoah
|
I have a second opinion about vowels. I believe Hebrew was originally spoken without vowels and thus none are written. There is ample evidence to show that the hominid ancestors of humans could speak on only using consonants. If you need a reference that confirms that hominids at one time could speak only with consonants, then I suggest the book, “The Ancestor’s Tale” by Richard Dawkins.
|
Human without God is void. God created Man in the image of God, HE gave man soul, spirit and body.
Man without God is empty, the Lord created us with a need for Him to have communion every day of our lives with Him.
Instead of digging into our void and empty lives (souls) why don't you get in touch with God?
|
The programmers of your spell- and grammar-check software simply did not take into account the ridiculousness and abuse of punctuation that is your choosing to write God as "G-d", as this is not exactly common or considered to be proper English usage; "G-d" is not a word, nor is it grammatically correct, so you can't expect it to be accepted by default.
If one had the source code to the grammar- and spell-checker, it would be trivially easy to modify the program to accept "G-d"
|
I personally don't think it's necessary to do that since it is not the Lord's real name you are in fact defacing, it is only a name used when something is not holy enough for His name to be used. When the thing you have written it on is thrown away, G-d's name (don't want to offend anyone) is not
|
ok, I see, but when I first saw the "G-d" thing I thought that was a bad thing. Carol is right, God doesn't need our protection, He can protect himself and us at the same time. So I see no need for the hyphen, if anything I think that is wrong. I think doing that takes away respect for Him. Wouldn't you agree?
|
No, no, no. There is no right or wrong here. It's preference and from what I've studied and understand it's a respect thing to spell it out G-D.
|
The idea that one may "only believe (discern truth) in things that can be logically proven" is logically self-contradictory, since the truth of logic itself cannot be logically proven. The same situation applies to scientism/naturalism. At some point, all philosophies must rely upon faith.
That seems to me to be shrewdly indicative of a larger truth.
|
|
LOGIN
ASK THE RABBI
Read this article
