Respect My Name - all others, too

Any Way Saturday
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Last week we looked at the Jewish practice of offering Berakhot. This week we're looking at names and their characteristics, as Jews held them. See what we can learn. (For more on this topic 'click' here')
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The Names of God

The first Name used for God in scripture is Elohim. This Name is used in scripture when emphasizing God's might, His creative power, and his attributes of justice and rulership.

God is also known as El Shaddai. This Name is usually translated as "God Almighty."

Another significant Name of God is YHVH Tzva'ot. This Name is normally translated as "Lord of Hosts." The word "tzva'ot" means "hosts" in the sense of a military grouping or an organized array. The Name refers to God's leadership and sovereignty.

The most significant of God's Names is represented by the Hebrew letters Yod-Hei-Vav-Hei (YHVH). It is often referred to as the Ineffable Name, the Unutterable Name, the Distinctive Name. In scripture, this Name is used when discussing God's relation with human beings, and when emphasizing his qualities of loving kindness and mercy.

The Significance of Names

In Jewish thought, a name is not merely an arbitrary designation, a random combination of sounds. The name conveys the nature and essence of the thing being named. It represents the history and reputation of the thing being named. Because a name represents the reputation of the thing named, a name should be treated with the same respect as the thing's reputation. For this reason, God's Names, in all their forms, are treated with enormous respect and reverence in Judaism.

Writing the Name of God

Judaism does not prohibit writing the Name of God per se; observant Jews avoid writing any Name of God casually because of the risk that the written Name might later be defaced, obliterated or destroyed accidentally by some one who doesn't know better. That is why observant Jews avoid writing a Name of God on web sites like this one or in newsgroup messages: because there is a risk that someone else will print it out and deface it.

Normally, Jews write the Name by substituting letters or syllables, for example, writing "G-d" instead of "God."

Pronouncing the Name of God

Judaism does not prohibit writing the Name of God per se; observant Jews avoid writing any Name of God casually because of the risk that the written Name might later be defaced, obliterated or destroyed accidentally by some one who doesn't know better. That is why observant Jews avoid writing a Name of God on web sites like this one or in newsgroup messages: because someone could deface it so easily.
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Your own good name should be treated with respect, also...and by the same token, others' names should be used respectfully. Your name represents YOU, and YOU are worthy of respect - we all are.
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