GENIUS HAS ITS LIMITS; STUPIDITY DOES NOT

FROM JANGLO (JERUSALEM ANGLOS) ON LINE

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This question actually came in in conversations a few times in the past week.

When I was a kid, I learned that the word הַלְּלוּיָ–הּ contains the name of Hashem, and therefore we shouldn’t say it in vain. Thus, outside the context of prayer or Torah study, the word should be pronounced “Halelukah.”

For those of us who have been discussing Leonard Cohen’s beautiful song “Halleuyah” since the singer died two weeks ago, the question is hotly relevant, but basically ignored.

Fortunately, Rabbi Aryeh Leibowitz put together a 10-minute discussion on the topic for YUTorah.org. Click the link to hear a complete discussion of the issue, from talmud to present day. Or if you just want the quick answer, here’s Rabbi Leibowitz’s take: There is good reason to be stringent, but there is sufficient room to be lenient.

There may be other opinions, and all questions should always be discussed with an authority that you personally know and trust.
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We must ask the author, Zev Stub, if he says Yisrael or Yisrakel? Does he call women named Talia, Talka? Both names contain a name of God according to Mr Stub. Is talcum powder really Talia powder, and someone changed the name? Granted it is a very old joke, but does Mr Stub say ginger kale, using the same logic?

Genius has its limits. Apparently narishkeit does not.