Pronouncing God's Name
 
Moshe Ben-Chaim
 
Question: It is my understanding that our philosophy is never to use G-d's Name without proper justification (2nd Commandment). Therefore, in common speech, we refer to Hashem - rather than A-D-O-N-A-I. In all my years in Yeshiva, it has never been explained to my why the pronunciation of the 2 Yud's and Yud-Kay-Vav-Kay are both pronounced as "A-D-O-N-A-I", even during prayer.
 
In my mind, when would there be better justification to use the proper pronunciation of G-d's name than during prayer, when we are trying to commune and establish a dialog with Him?
 
 
 
Mesora: I learned from a rabbi years ago that the idea of never pronouncing God's name - as written - is a demonstration by man that he does not have positive knowledge of God. "We cannot call Him by His real name", this means that we do not know His essence. This idea is an essential idea for mankind to recognize. Our minds are incapable of surpassing certain areas of thought. We also demonstrate this by never entering the Holy of Holies in the Temple. See my article on this here: The Temple and Tabernacle


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