# Orthodox Jews and those who know of them: a question **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 18, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-jews-and-those-who-know-of-them-a-question/202446 "2003-09-18T19:39:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-jews-and-those-who-know-of-them-a-question/202446/1 "2003-09-18T19:39:51Z")
I understand that Orthodox Jews do not spell out the name of G-d, believing it to be sinful/blasphemous. I’m not clear on exactly why, though. Am I right it has something to do with the possible impermanancy of the written word? Also wondering why speaking the name is not also considered blasphemous. For the IMHO portion of the post, is it bothersome/offensive to Orthodox Jews for others to write out the name? Why or why not? ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-jews-and-those-who-know-of-them-a-question/202446/2 "2003-09-18T20:23:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Otto \* > **I understand that Orthodox Jews do not spell out the name of G-d, believing it to be sinful/blasphemous. I’m not clear on exactly why, though. Am I right it has something to do with the possible impermanancy of the written word?** According to www.scjfaq.org/faq/11-03-01.html]this site, you’re on the right track. “Based on the words in Deut. 12:3-4, the Rabbis deduced that it is forbidden to erase the name of G-d from a written document. Since any paper upon which G-d’s name was written might be discarded and thus “erased”, the Rabbis forbade explicitly writing the name of G-d, except in Holy Books, with provisions for the proper disposal of such books.” ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-jews-and-those-who-know-of-them-a-question/202446/3 "2003-09-18T22:44:20Z")
It’s not quite that straightforward, of course, although that’s the main thrust of it. There are plenty of traditional Jews (Orthodox and others) who would not write the NAME of God – the Tetragrammaton, the Four-Lettered Name – on any paper or in any setting where it might be erased. However, the English word “God” is not a name so much as title, and hence I have no difficulty in writing that word. BTW, there is also a rabbinic ruling (I think) that electronic pixels are not actually “writing.” Otherwise, those who refrain from erasing the word “God” would not be able to clear their computer screen. ---
**Author:** ![saramamalana](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/74df32/32.png) [@saramamalana](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saramamalana)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-jews-and-those-who-know-of-them-a-question/202446/4 "2003-09-19T01:23:41Z")
It’s funny…I went to hebrew school up through 5th grade, and they told us that you shouldn’t write out G-d or erase the name (as has been said here). While I identify as Jewish but don’t practice nor do I believe in G-d, I still feel weird about writing out the whole name (as you can see). Also, when I’m typing fast, I have a tendency to skip an o in the word “good” and when I realize I’m going to backspace, I get a little twinge knowing I have to erase the name. I think sometimes I actually look away while doing it. Curséd brainwashing! ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/orthodox-jews-and-those-who-know-of-them-a-question/202446/5 "2003-09-19T05:33:36Z")
**Dex** - the Jewish people historically had a lot more oral tradition than written, didn’t they? Likewise, for the Tetragrammaton - am I right that we only know the letters, not the vowels, because it was never written down?