Q. Recently I had an email discussion about how to write Hashem's name in English. They felt that G-d hyphenating was not necessary as they stated was only a generic way of referring to Hashem and not a name of Hashem. I have always been led to believe that including the o in G-d constitutes shaymos.
What is the correct approach?
A. Shach (Y.D. 179: 11) rules that one may erase Hashem's name written in other languages. Mishna Berura (85: 10) maintains that although one may erase that name as it lacks holiness, one should not repeat the name in vain (Mishna Berura ibid, Igros Moshe Y.D. 174) or mention it in unclean sites since that constitutes defilement and desecration and that prohibition is more severe and still applies. It also includes the proscription of discarding it as ordinary waste matter (Achieazer 3: 32, Minchas Yitzchok 1: 17, Ginzei Hakodesh p.91)
Besides the issue of secular languages, that name of G-d may not be referring to His true name at all, but rather to the broad concept of all deities of any religion including idolatrous creeds, yet Poiskim advise not to defile or desecrate it, out of concern that it may not be so. (See; Shach, Yoreh De’ah 179:11, Beis Yosef, Tur, Y. D. 276, quoting the Rashbatz's - Beth Lechem Yehuda Y. D. 276:10)
However, when the name of G-d, written in other languages is hyphenated, most Poiskim permit including it in the regular refuse disposal (not so when written in Hebrew where Poiskim disagree. See Avnei Nezer Y.D. 365, Shalmas Chaim 366, Mincha Yitzchok 9: 62: 3, Teshuvos Vehanhogos 1: 638, Halichos Shlomo –Tefila 22: 10 note 34).
Therefore Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a advises to hyphenate Hashem's name even when written in other languages.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
Important Numbers
