[HANASHIR:12256] Re: question on words. one word, actually.

[sholom <sholom...>]

Certainly the sensitivities (if we're talking about performing songs with
others) of the audience must be kept in mind.  In other words, if you
think it is permissible, and you know that some in the audience do not --
then taking this into account is a positive thing in terms of mutual
respect between the movements.

The 3rd Commandment, please somebody correct me if I am wrong, comes into
play particularly when singing a song that has a bracha in it -- and you
are not actually making that bracha.  (E.g., singing D Friedman's "Birkas
Havdalla" song when you are not actually doing havdalah at the time). 
This is called a "bracha l'vatala", and is considered by some to be a
direct transgression of that commandment.

And there is also the simple matter of respect towards G-d.  That is, you
use the name when you are quoting a verse from Torah, or actually praising
G-d -- but not otherwise.

> well as the human inability to pronounce the tetragrammaton.  It has
> become common practice to pronounce this 4 letter biblical name as
> "Adonai"


The Talmud also lists seven names of G-d which are considered holy enough
that they should not be erased.  The "A"-word is one of them.  (Which also
points out that when Josh writes "it has become common practice", that it
was already considered standard practice 2000 years ago).

-- Sholom





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