this really bothered me

[ilovepcot]

POP DADDY, how profound.....and true!

 

[Aimeedyan]

Yes, it's also presented as YAHWEH, but in the earliest Hebrew manuscripts, nouns were not used, just consonants, so we only know that the letters were YHWH, and the a and e have been added in later. When I say it, I say YAHWEH, but when I write out, I use YHWH.

 

[Beth76]

Originally posted by Aimeedyan
Yes, it's also presented as YAHWEH, but in the earliest Hebrew manuscripts, nouns were not used, just consonants, so we only know that the letters were YHWH, and the a and e have been added in later. When I say it, I say YAHWEH, but when I write out, I use YHWH.

Hmmm. I did not know that. So this person had "YHWH" tattooed on his arm and OP was offended because this is a Jewish term/symbol and this person is obviously not Jewish because they prohibit tattoos? Am I understanding this correctly? I don't really understand the problem. Perhaps this person just does not follow the "no tattoos" rule. I could see being offended if the tattoo was something derogatory against "YHWH", but it doesn't seem to be. Either way, I'm glad OP followed the advice that she gives in her signature.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Originally posted by Beth76
Hmmm. I did not know that. So this person had "YHWH" tattooed on his arm and OP was offended because this is a Jewish term/symbol and this person is obviously not Jewish because they prohibit tattoos? Am I understanding this correctly? I don't really understand the problem. Perhaps this person just does not follow the "no tattoos" rule. I could see being offended if the tattoo was something derogatory against "YHWH", but it doesn't seem to be. Either way, I'm glad OP followed the advice that she gives in her signature.

To be honest, I'm not Jewish and am afraid to speak for their tradition, but what I understood from the OP (And what I remember of the Jewish faith) is that the name of God - YHWH - is not to be spoken, as it is the name God gave himself... so the fact that someone tattoed his unmentionable name onto himself was offensive... but again, I can't be positive - but that's what I am assuming.

But I do notice the OP hasn't come back to visit us... maybe they can tell us more about the Jewish tradition regarding this, and what exactly upset her if the person didn't appear to be Jewish (obviously MOST non-Jews have not a clue its a sacred term for the Jewish faith). I am always interested in learning more =)

And I, too, am glad the OP didn't speak up...

 

[cati]

I have a question.... In the jewish faith, if the name of God - YHWH - is not to be spoken, then how does a child learn of God's name????? Don't they read or tell their children his name?? Just curious.

 

[totalia]

I imagine the person did it for the exact reasons you described. To rebel.

I don't know why it bothered you so much though. It's their body and their problem. Would you have been so offended if you saw my pentacle necklace hanging out of my shirt too (I'm wiccan)? Its really not any of your business and its very closed minded.

 

[~*Belle 2003*~]

Originally posted by dumboiu
I am not sure that "suffering in silence" is the correct term.......however, I would have kept quiet since it is really none of my business what others choose to do to their own bodies.

ITA

 

[BedKnobbery2]

Also not Jewish, but know a little bit about the religion since one of my best friends in college became a rabbi.

I think many here are misinterpreting what the OP is saying, and perhaps this is because of a lack of knowledge regarding judaism.

Regarding the name of god--and by this it means his name, like John or Mary or Sue not his title (God)--it is considered so incredibly sacred as to not be spoken, but only read in the sacred texts. To repeat the name is blasphemous.

The only Christian equivalent I can come up with that would be similarly offensive is a tattoo that says "F--K JESUS!" (fill in the blanks). I imagine there are many here who would take great offense to such a tattoo.

In this case, though, I imagine the offense was made out of ignorance--the guy probably had no idea what he did, in relation to religion.

I wouldn't have said anything to the guy, in any case.

 

[poohandwendy]

Originally posted by BedKnobbery2
Also not Jewish, but know a little bit about the religion since one of my best friends in college became a rabbi.

I think many here are misinterpreting what the OP is saying, and perhaps this is because of a lack of knowledge regarding judaism.

Regarding the name of god--and by this it means his name, like John or Mary or Sue not his title (God)--it is considered so incredibly sacred as to not be spoken, but only read in the sacred texts. To repeat the name is blasphemous.

The only Christian equivalent I can come up with that would be similarly offensive is a tattoo that says "F--K JESUS!" (fill in the blanks). I imagine there are many here who would take great offense to such a tattoo.

In this case, though, I imagine the offense was made out of ignorance--the guy probably had no idea what he did, in relation to religion.

I wouldn't have said anything to the guy, in any case.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I understood what the OP was saying, and I totally understand blasphemy.

I wouldn't take great offense or be 'unbearably uncomfortable' by someone elses tattoo, no matter what it said or represented. I would shake my head, say a mental prayer for them and move on.

We live in a very big world with many, many people who have different beliefs and customs. We must all find a way to accept that others don't neccesarily think our way is the 'right' way and they have the right to express it, even if it offends us. A true measure of a persons character is how they deal with adversity.

 

[aprilgail2]

I wouldn't have said anything..but then again I am atheist so nothing like that bothers me....only thing that DID bother me once in the subway was the guy walking in with a giant 5 foot snake draped around his neck and hanging down...again though, I didn't say anything, just moved the kids and I to a different part of the car!

 

[bubie2.5]

Wow Pop Daddy, your post was kind of long (for your standards) but so right. Sexy AND insightful, I think I'm becoming a fan.

To the OP, I understand how you can be offended, but I wouldn't have said anything.

 

[Pop Daddy]

Originally posted by bubie2.5
Wow Pop Daddy, your post was kind of long (for your standards) but so right. Sexy AND insightful, I think I'm becoming a fan.

ouuuuu baybeee

 

[Beth76]

Originally posted by BedKnobbery2
Regarding the name of god--and by this it means his name, like John or Mary or Sue not his title (God)--it is considered so incredibly sacred as to not be spoken, but only read in the sacred texts. To repeat the name is blasphemous.

So speaking the name "YHWH" or "YAHWEH" is blasphemous? But I've heard it spoken before. Perhaps not by a Jewish person, but definitely in a religious context. This man wasn't saying it though. Is there a difference? What about "God" can you say that in order to refer specifically to the "person"?

 

[Serena]

Yep, Jason and wendy are right on target.
To say anything would have been rude, it's none of my business what someone has tattoo'd on their body. And if I don't like it, I can look somewhere else.

 

[jennyanydots]

to explain further -- the Name is represented by four Hebrew letters, corresponding to YHWH in the English aplhabet. the Torah -- the Hebrew scrolls of the five books of Moses -- doesn't use vowels, so there's no way to discern the true pronunciation. when we read Torah we substitute the word "Adonai", which in Hebrew means "Lord". G-d's Name is unpronounceable.

You notice I leave out aletter when I write "G-d". there's no prohibition about writing the word in English, I do it as a reminder -- any paper or parchment which contains G-d's name must be treated with reverence. when a prayerbook or Torah is no longer useable, we don't throw it out, bury it in a special ceremony.

the young man I saw in the subway was clearly not Jewish, yet he was using one of the most powerful Jewish symbols imaginable. I had a very visceral reaction to what my religion teaches is wrong.