Jerusalem – Rabbi Ovadia Yosef expanded on the Biblical commandment “Thou shalt not take God’s name in vain” on Monday, declaring that Jews may not do so in other languages as well.
Subscribe to our Daily Roundup Email
This makes saying “Oh my God” or the Arabic “Ya Allah,” both popular Israeli slang terms, halachically forbidden.
Yosef explained that the “the prohibition is against saying His name when it is not in the context of a blessing or a prayer. We prefer to be stringent and apply the prohibition to languages like English or Arabic.”
Does this mean we can’t say OMG on Twitter?
What about when asked about something and responding “only G-d knows”?
What about the Hungarian ‘yoy yishtanem’? Hebrew and Arabic are ‘holy’ languages, but we had to learn Hungarian to speak to the peasants
What about “Oy, Ribbonoi shel Oilam!”?
every one should use commen sence.
#4 , arabic is NOT a holy language.
#5, Ribono Shell Olom is more of a reference to G-D then a name.
What I would like to know is, how does this ruling affect writing G-D in english or any other language, and if it does affect writing, what about digitally ie on a computer, cell phone, blackberry etc etc?
He is correct. We should all watch our words.
Thats a pretty interesting one, never thought of that one before.
Rav Avigdor Miller, zt”l, would always spell out Gee-Oh-Dee when he spoke, rather than say “G-d” in English. (Also, although he usually used mostly English words when he spoke, he would usually say “the Ribono Shel Olam” or “HaKadosh Baruch Hu” rather than G-O-D).
no offense to R. Yosef, but “we” means “R. Yosef” and “prefer” means “his opinion”. It is a suggestion, not Halacha. I agree that we should watch our words, but ‘we’ don’t think that makes it assur
Well, I say his spirit is in the right place, but we have bigger blasphemies and heresies to really worry about. Saying the expression he touches upon is not exactly an egregious error, though one must be careful not to speak falsely or in greivance call to Hashem to be his/her plateau. I can see that saying somthing of the likeness he used might be an expression that if really used in a very surprising situation or scary situation will likely not offend our Creator. Using “my goodness” or “oh my goodness” is clearly a much more suitable expression of greivance, agony, shame or anger.
I believe Rav Moshe Feinstein held that only God’s name in Lashon Hakodesh is holy. Others held otherwise so its a machlokes. Consult your rov.
How about oh, my Gosh as a substitute?
Clearly, there are many rabbonim who hold differently and only assur using the hashem’s name in lashon hakodesh (aka Ivrit). Thus, any outburst in Yiddish or English is NOT a problem but check with your own poske or rav to see if they might agree with rav yosef (whose views are respected by some in EY).
Didnt Rabbi Frand say in the tshuva drasha that oh my god is a form of teffillah?
My grandparents used Gutt in Himmel, Guttenyu, Gloib tzi Gutt. Same as G-d in English. My kids learning Chumash in Yeshiva teitch Hashem as G-d, as it should be.
Rav Ovadia Yosef’s psak is clearly and simply based on the Ten Commandments:
“You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your G-d, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.”
Yes, I know that is a peculiar translation, but it was the best I could find in a hurry.
This is regular halacha, not some new idea. Stop trying to be poitical or to say this Rabbi says this and this rabbi says that.
R. Shlomo Ganzfried wrote this in the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 200 or so years ago. See siman 6, siff 3. One should only use Hashem’s name in praying, brachos, etc… It is forbidden to use it casually in any language.
I am pretty sure 99% of us can agree that the Kitzur is an okay sefer to go by. For more, also check Igros Moshe, Yoreh Deah s.172