Why Jewish People Write G-D

[random3434]

The Nature of G-d


Seems a lot of people may not know why jewish people write G-D

Judaism does not prohibit writing the Name of God per se; it prohibits only erasing or defacing a Name of God. However, observant Jews avoid writing any Name of God casually because of the risk that the written Name might later be defaced, obliterated or destroyed accidentally or by one who does not know better. Observant Jews avoid writing a Name of God on web sites like this one because there is a risk that someone else will print it out and deface it. To avoid writing the Name, Orthodox Jews (and sometimes other denominations) substitute letters or syllables, for example, writing "G-d" instead of "God."

 

[sky dancer]

The Nature of G-d


Seems a lot of people may not know why jewish people write G-D

Thank you. I always wondered about that. Buddhists in my tradition take care to not step on or over sacred texts, nor do we mark them in any way.

 

[Anguille]

The Nature of G-d


Seems a lot of people may not know why jewish people write G-D

I knew that but have always wondered why it matters since God is English not Hebrew. Shalom Auslander tells a very funny story of how his teacher at Hebrew School decided Shalom's name was too holy to be written or pronounced so he insisted Shalom be called Shalo.

Chicago Public Radio