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Ovadia Yosef: Jews may not say ‘Oh My G-d’

Jerusalem Post

ISRAEL — 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.

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.”

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19 Comments

  • motel

    It is his psakim and the antics of Shas which often lead people to say “oh my gd!!!”

  • Chosid

    With respect to R’ Ovadia, he is not the posek for Chabad and this does not need to be on this site.

    This is the posek who said that women who wear sheitels will go to gehinnom r”l in complete contradiction to our Rebbe’s words

  • that-s why my friends and i say

    “O.M.GOSH!!!!!!”
    or just “o.m.g.” but not the word G-d!

    BHHHBHBHBHBHBHBHBHBHBHBHBHBHBH

  • holy moses

    Come on Rabbi get a life, there are more important things than saying oh my G-D. What about the rest of the commandments. Like thou shall not steal. Or tho shall not kill, even embarrassing somebody is like killing him. What about adultery, does that that not count, or life is to great with it. I believe there are six more. What about not smoking, let alone on Shabbbos, doesn’t it say keep the Shabbbos holy. Come on Rabbi pick the good ones to comment on. I’m sorry if I came on too strong, but the truth is the truth.

  • This has been known, look it up.

    This is normal halacha. Look it up in the 6th siman of the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, siff 3. It is a good idea in general not to be loose with language in general.

  • Halahca

    Try opening a kitzur shulchan aruch and you’ll find it spelled out clearly in halacha.

  • To 5

    Please do your research before you comment. It is a big issue, and in fact the concept of writing G-d (in such a manner), promoted by the Freidiker Rebbe and Rebbe, is based on the same din.

  • Levi

    Not new. Also, no reason he should talk about one mitzvah and not another [no 5]. Also, is that half time at the superbowl? Go Rabbi!

  • ash

    The gaon said what he had to say! people, sadly including myself use this phrase too often, i could use a bit of a reminder, that was all he was addressing. He is a great Torah Scholar, and even though he doesnt Pasken for Lubavitchers, he still has a great mind and theres no reason to listen to him when he’s right.

  • No Mas

    What about the Spanish word “ojala” – loosely translated as “halle-vai” – it’s etymology is from the Moors influence in Spain, hence the Arabic similarity?

  • a fan of Rav ovadya

    please all of you who write against Rav ovadya Just don’t be self center and see everything from the eyes of chabad

  • #3, chossid shoteh

    chabad does not have its own Torah- we dont have our own set of halachos- the 10 commandments were given to chabad as well.
    in addition, this man is a rov- if you have no respect- you should be ashamed and writing about it mkes you look like a disrespectful fool.
    it shouldnt be hard to read this without producing a negative rsponse. please

  • mendy

    theres a problem with saying oh my gosh too because it stands for good old sheaperd.