Q&A: God or G‑d
God or G‑d
Question
Hello, is there an agreed-upon halakhic ruling on whether to say or write the expressions God, godliness/divinity (without the hyphen, and not as part of a verse quotation), or whether one should be careful to write G‑d, godliness, etc.? In the past I was careful to write G‑d, but recently I saw that maybe this isn’t necessary… (The question is about a case where one really does mean the Holy One, blessed be He, and not as an expression referring to some other essence.)
Answer
There is no problem with writing the Divine Name, and there are even those who criticize someone who writes it with a kuf instead (because that is considered degrading to the Name). But that is only if there is no concern that the text will be brought into filthy places or thrown out disrespectfully.
I write God with a vav, and in that form it does not have sanctity.
By the way, if you do write it with a hyphen, it is preferable to place it between the aleph and the lamed.
Discussion on Answer
It is permissible to say the Name in speech as well (though there intention is probably required, and I wouldn’t get entangled in that).
As for the hyphen, that is why I wrote “preferable.” “Elokim” is a different word, but a hyphen does not change the word, so the combination “E‑l” at the beginning still has the meaning of the Divine Name.
Thank you very much, I understand. Just one more small question — does everything you said also apply to the word “divinity/godliness,” or is it different there because it is not really the Divine Name?
There is room to be lenient: https://www.srugim.co.il/33918-%D7%94%D7%90%D7%9D-%D7%A6%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%9A-%D7%9C%D7%92%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%96-%D7%A2%D7%99%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%9F-%D7%91%D7%95-%D7%A0%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%91-%D7%94%D7%97%D7%9C%D7%A7%D7%99%D7%A7-%D7%94%D7%90
Also in speech? Is it permissible to say G‑od when one means the Holy One, blessed be He?
(As for the hyphen: if “E‑l” is the problematic combination, then why is it the heh that gets changed? And what about the word “E‑l” itself when it stands alone? Should one split it in writing, or is there no need? Can one say it aloud, or are those who alter that as well actually correct?)