[HANASHIR:12270] Re: question on words. one word, actually.

[I.Oppenheim <i.oppenheim...>]

On Fri, 20 Sep 2002 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.

The minhag not to use Gods proper names, except when
quoting a passuk or making a berakhah goes at least as
far back as the Mishnah. The Mishnah introduced the
familiar name "Hakaddosh Barukh Hu" when referring to
God (See e.g. the last mishnah from the tractate
Makkot).

The Midrash elaborates the meaning of the different
proper names of God: "At that moment Mosheh asked
Hakaddosh Barukh Hu to reveal to him the Great Name.
Hakaddosh Barukh Hu said to Mosheh: 'What do you seek
to know? I am called according to My acts. Sometimes
I'm called Eil Shadday, or Tseva'ot, or Elokim, or
Adosheim. When I judge mankind I'm called Elokim; when
I make war against the wicked I'm called Tseva'ot; when
I suspend man's sins I'm called Eil Shadday and when I
have compassion on My world I'm called Adosheim,' as it
is said 'Adosheim, Adosheim, God, merciful and
gracious.' This is the meaning of the verse: 'I am
that I am'---'I am named according to my acts.' " (from
Shemot Raba)


Groeten,

  Irwin Oppenheim
  i(dot)oppenheim (at) xs4all(dot)nl
  www.xs4all.nl/~danio/chazzanut/

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