[HANASHIR:8439] Re: Use of Hashem or Ad-nai

[Andy Curry <acurry...>]

Karen, I think I agree with you.

No matter what name you use, someone will take offense.

When I taught 5th-grade Sunday school, we had a lesson on the "Names of
God".  If I recall correctly, there were something like 84 names in our
tradition.  The reason, of course, is there is not a single name or
attribute by which God can be known.

There is a wonderful quality to the name "Hashem" in that it literally
means "the name".  Dare we say that by using that name we are suggesting
that God is beyond any single name?  Just as the feast of Purim, in its
absurdity, suggests that there is a Force which makes sense of everything?
("Help will come from another place")

The name "Adonai" - "my Lord" - identifies only one of God's qualities,
albeit an important one.  I challenge all you writers of Jewish songs to
use some of the other great names we have!

Happy Purim!
Andy

At 04:25 PM 3/6/01 EST, you wrote:
>As a singer/songwriter, I wanted to comment on this very controversial
topic!  And I'd like to hear more singers'/songwriters' thoughts!
>
>I first realized the extent of this argument when criticized by some for
using "Hashem" in my song Y'varech'cha.  How to explain: it just "felt"
right, it fit the melody. Dare I say...it gave the song (in my opinion) an
old-world, Shlomo Carlebach sort of feel....
>
>On the other hand, I have written other songs using Ad-onai freely, and
that has offended some people.  In those cases, I felt like because my goal
was teaching a prayer or blessing through the use of song, I wanted the
listener to learn it the "right" way, as it would be used for its real
purposes!  Example: Shabbat Blessings (for young children).  If the song
used "Hashem" maybe the young children wouldn't know to substitute Ad-nai
at the right time!
>
>I have had people use my songs in their own congregations and change the
wording, accordingly, to fit their own belief and minhag.  That is just
fine with me.  The song is a vessel which each singer/cantor/pray-or must
fill.  In fact, at times they have changed more than just the name of G-d
to suit their own belief, and that too is fine with me.
>
>Other comments?
>
>-Karen Daniel
>www.karendaniel.com
>
>
>
>
Andy Curry, Kansas City
acurry (at) san-carlos(dot)rms(dot)slb(dot)com

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