Shem, ha-

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Shem, ha- (Heb., ‘The Name’). Hebrew term for God. When reading, or speaking, the term ‘ha-Shem’ is used to avoid pronouncing the Tetragrammaton. It is found in such phrases as Barukh ha-Shem (‘Blessed be the name’) and ʿIm yirtze ha-Shem (‘God willing’).

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