What’s God’s name? TB kiddushin 71

God is not God’s name. It’s the Holy One’s job title. As an aside in today’s daf TB Kidushin 71 we learn about God’s several names. Because they are holy, the Gemara explains how the rabbis treated them and transmitted them to the students.

“The above statement, concerning a matter that the Sages transmitted privately and infrequently, leads the Gemara to teach a similar halakha: Rabba bar Ḥana says that Rabbi Yoḥanan says: The Sages transmit the correct pronunciation of the four-letter name of God to their students once every seven years, and some say twice every seven years. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak says: It stands to reason in accordance with the one who says that they transmit it once every seven years, as it is written: “This is My name forever [le’olam]” (Exodus 3:15), which is written so that it can be read le’alem, to hide. This indicates that the Divine Name must remain hidden. The Gemara relates: Rava planned to expound and explain the proper way to say the name in a public discourse. A certain elder said to him: It is written so that it can be read le’alem, indicating that it must stay hidden.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Don’t we know the four-letter name of God, Yod Hey Vav Hey?! Perhaps God has another four-letter name that we just don’t know anymore. Or perhaps, the correct pronunciation of Yod Hey Vav Hey stopped completely being transmitted; consequently, we no longer know the correct pronunciation.

“Rabbi Avina raised a contradiction: It is written: “This is My name,” indicating that the name as written is that of God; and it is written: “This is My remembrance” (Exodus 3:15), which indicates that it is not God’s actual name but merely a way of remembering His name. The explanation is as follows: The Holy One, Blessed be He, said: Not as I am written am I pronounced. I am written with the letters yod, heh, vav, heh, while My name is pronounced with the letters alef, dalet, nun, yod.” (Sefaria.org translation) And this is our custom today.

“The Sages taught: Initially, the Sages would transmit the twelve-letter name of God to any person. When the uninhibited ones who used the name disrespectfully increased, they would transmit it only to discreet members of the priesthood, and the discreet members of the priesthood would pronounce the name during the Priestly Benediction. They would conceal it by saying it during the sweet melody of their priestly brothers, so that it would not become publicly known. It is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Tarfon, who was himself a priest, said: On one occasion I ascended after my mother’s brother to the platform to give the Priestly Benediction, and I inclined my ear near the High Priest, and I heard him conceal the name during the sweet melody of his priestly brothers.” (Sefaria.org translation) Don’t feel bad that you don’t know this 12-letter name of God because Rashi says in his commentary he doesn’t know it either.

“Rav Yehuda says that Rav says: The forty-two-letter name of God may be transmitted only to one who is discreet, and humble, and stands at least half his life, and does not get angry, and does not get drunk, and does not insist upon his rights but is willing to yield. There is no concern that such a person might reveal the name in a fit of anger or drunkenness. And anyone who knows this name and is careful with it and guards it in purity is beloved above and treasured below; and fear of him is cast upon the creatures; and he inherits two worlds, this world and the World-to-Come.” (Sefaria.org translation) Once again Rashi says he doesn’t know this name either.

In some synagogues the Kabbalistic poem Ana Bekoakh is recited before the Lekha Dodi Friday nights. This poem pleads for Israel’s redemption from exile. “Although of unknown authorship, tradition attributes it to a Sage of the second century. It seven lines of six words each-the first letters spell out a secret Divine name (42 letters in all-gg) have served as the basis of much mystical speculation.” (Siddur Sim Shalom for Shabbat and Holidays, page 20) Below is the poem Ana Bekoakh so you can figure out the 42-letter name of God.

אַנָּא בְּכֹחַ גְּדֻלַּת יְמִינְךָ. תַּתִּיר צְרוּרָה:
קַבֵּל רִנַּת עַמְּךָ. שַׂגְּבֵנוּ טַהֲרֵנוּ נוֹרָא:
נָא גִּבּוֹר. דּוֹרְשֵׁי יִחוּדְךָ. כְּבַבַּת שָׁמְרֵם:
בָּרְכֶם טַהֲרֵם. רַחֲמֵי צִדְקָתְךָ. תָּמִיד גָּמְלֵם:
חָסִין קָדוֹשׁ. בְּרוֹב טוּבְךָ. נָהֵל עֲדָתֵךָ:
יָחִיד גֵּאֶה. לְעַמְּךָ פְּנֵה. זוֹכְרֵי קְדֻשֶּׁתֶּךָ:
שַׁוְעָתֵנוּ קַבֵּל. וְשָׁמַע צַעֲקָתֵנוּ. יוֹדֵעַ תַּעֲלֻמוֹת:
בָּרוּךְ שֵׁם כְּבוֹד מַלְכוּתוֹ לְעוֹלָם וָעֶד:

We beg you! With the strength and greatness of your right arm, untie our bundled sins. Accept your nation's song; elevate and purify us, O Awesome One. Please, O Heroic One, those who foster your Oneness, guard them like the pupil of an eye. Bless them, purify them, pity them. May Your righteousness always reward them. Powerful Holy One, in much goodness guide Your congregation. Unique and Exalted One, turn to Your nation which proclaims Your holiness. Accept our entreaty and hear our screams, O Knower of Mysteries. Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom, forever and ever. (Sefaria.org translation)

By the way, do you know God’s English name? It’s Harold We say so in our prayer “Our Father in heaven Harold be Your holy name.” 😊