DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Halacha is For Refuah Shelemah for
 Simon ben Sylvia

Dedicated By
Saul Assa and Family

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
      
(File size: 828 KB)
Uttering a Name of God in a Restroom, Bathhouse or Mikveh

Halacha forbids uttering any Name of God while one is in the restroom, shower, bathhouse or Mikveh, as these are places where people are generally unrobed or perform their personal needs.

 

The Sages have taught that the word "Shalom," which we generally translate as "peace," is also one of the Names of God, a concept derived from a verse in the Book of Shoftim (6:24 – "Va'yikra lo Hashem Shalom").  Hence, one may not say the word "Shalom" in areas where Halacha forbids uttering a Name of God.  This applies as well to greetings such as "Shalom Aleichem" or "Shabbat Shalom."

 

According to the Ben Ish Chai in Parashat VaYetze, Halacha 16, (Rabbi Yosef Chayim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), this prohibition applies even to saying "Shalom" in reference to a person named "Shalom."  Since this word is a Name of God, it may not be uttered in these areas in any capacity.  Similarly, he rules that one may not mention a person's name if it contains a Name of God, such as "Abdullah" (which contains the word "Allah," the Arabic word for "God") or "Ovadia" (which contains "Ya-h," a Name of God).

 

Chacham Ovadia Yosef in Halichot Olam, Helek 1, page 43, however, disagrees, and permits making reference to a person named "Shalom" or mentioning a name that contains a Name of God.  In his view, since the name is used in this context in specific reference to a person, it may be said in areas where one may not utter a Name of God.

 

Summary: One may not utter any Name of God, including the word "shalom," in a restroom, shower, bathhouse or Mikveh.  This Issur (restriction) would include saying ‘Shabbat Shalom.’  One may utter the word "shalom" in these areas only in reference to a person known by that name.  A name that contains within it a name of God, such as the name "Ovadia," may be uttered in these areas.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
“Lehem Mishneh” – The Two Loaves at the Shabbat Meal (Part 1)
“Kiddush Bi’mkom Se’uda” – Rice, Dates and Noodles
Kiddush At a Berit Mila on Shabbat; Hearing Kiddush in One Place and Eating in Another
Tasting the Shabbat Food on Ereb Shabbat
The Requirement to Eat or Drink Wine After Kiddush
Is It Permissible On Shabbat To Allow Security Video Cameras or Walk By A Light Activated By Motion Detector
Involving Oneself in Shabbat Preparations
The Case When Family Members Speak Before Drinkng The Wine After Kiddush Is Heard
Kiddush – If Somebody Forgot to Recite Kiddush on Friday Night; If Somebody Does Not Have Wine or Cannot Drink Wine
Reciting the Weekday Amida on Shabbat if No Siddur is Available
Asking Somebody to Peform Melacha After Accepting Shabbat Early
Eating the Friday Night Shabbat Meal Before Dark
Inviting a Non-Observant Jew to a Simha or to One’s Home on Shabbat
If One Spends Shabbat in a Hotel That Uses Electronic Keys
The Status of Electricity With Regard to Bishul Akum, Cooking on Shabbat, and Shabbat Candles
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found