[HANASHIR:12269] Re: question on words. one word, actually.

[Jennifer Stevens <srtalina...>]

Hi all,

To continue on Josh's response, some people also feel uncomfortable using 
the "A-word" or other name-substitutes as it were.  Therefore, depending on 
the musical setting (solo versus choral), I've been told to say "Adoshem" or 
"Adomoi" as well as "Elokeinu" and other similar variations.  Same reasoning 
taken a step further.

BTW, I like Josh's answer. :)

Good luck Beth with your discussion,
Jennifer


>From: Josh Weinberg <joshrwein (at) yahoo(dot)com>
>Beth,
>This tradition came from the third commandment "al tisa et shem elohim 
>lashav" or 'don't take God's name in vain...'  Using the word Hashem or 
>writing "G-d" come from an attempt to not take God's name in vain, as well 
>as the human inability to pronounce the tetragrammaton.  It has become 
>common practice to pronounce this 4 letter biblical name as "Adonai" which 
>literally means Lord, and - as far as the Refom tradition is concerned - is 
>not gender sensitive.  It might be interesting for your discussion to 
>discuss this commandment and see what music has done with it and, depending 
>on the age of your participants, maybe try and feel around for everyone's 
>own comfortability with this issue.  Good luck.
>Moadim L'simcha,
>Josh Weinberg
>  Batiya5723 (at) cs(dot)com wrote:I have been asked to lead a discussion 
> about 
>Jewish music and one of the questions has to do with using one of the 
>zillion names of God.
>Because I am schooled in the Reform tradition it feels okay for me to use 
>-- well, let's call it the A-word for now -- in reference to God. But other 
>Jews prefer to avoid use of this word by substituting a less, um, loaded 
>word in its place; or by doctoring a name by changing a consonant to alter 
>the pronounciation and thereby avoid the actual name altogether.
>How did this tradition come about? What do people think about it? And can 
>anyone recommend a good book that would help be feel better prepared to 
>discuss this phenomenon?
>Thank you in advance --Beth Hamon
>
>
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