[HANASHIR:12344] Re: question on words. one word, actually.

[Sholom Simon <sholom...>]

A few weeks ago, I promised to look up the passage from the Gemara related 
to this issue.

I finally remembered!

The Gemara writes (at the bottom of 35a in Shavuos)  (note: I'm going to 
insert a dash '-' into all the words, and also add comments in brackets [] 
and translations in parentheses () -- I hope that doesn't make it too 
complicated):

"There are the names [of G-d] that may not be erased: for example E-l, 
E-lohecha, E-lohim, E-loheichem, Ehyeh-Asher-Ehyeh, [the name that starts 
with] Alef-Dalet, [the name that is spelled] Yud, Heh [etc], Sh-addai, and 
Tz-evaos."

There is a variant text of the above with also includes the two letter word 
that is spelled Yud-Heh.

Futher, the above words with other endings also are included (e.g., 
E-loheinu, etc.)

I will add that the commentaries say that the last four (including the one 
that is spelled with Alef-Dalet) are indeed actual names of G-d.

Also: sometimes A-donai simply means "my master".  When it dose, it may be 
erased if it carries that other meaning.

FYI,

-- Sholom



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