Question:
Is there a basis for writing a dash between a yud and a heh in words that are next to eachother? Is this required? For example: gematria.
Thank you!
Answer:
Thank you for your question.
The reason people put a dash because according to some poskim, if there is a dash between the two letters it is not considered as if the name of Hashem was written on it, and they don’t have to be careful that the paper not be put on the floor, or to be careful that it be put into shaimos. Those who are careful even not to put a hyphen will just make a small line for the ה’ without writing it.
This is why the is a minhag that when writing gematiras of 15 or 16, the minhag is to write ט”ו and ט”ז, in order not to write and yud and hey or yud and vav together.
Names that have Hashem’s name in it, when they aren’t being written as Hashem’s name do not need the hypen. However there were gedolim who were careful not to finish writing a name that has three letters of Hashem’s name in it, ) yud and hey and vav) such as ישעי’ or אלי’. (See Ginzei Hakodesh 7-28)
Best wishes
Sources:
Achiezer 3-32, Minchas Yitzchok 9:62:3, Halichos Shlomo Tefilla chapter 22 footnote 34, Ginzei Hakodesh 7:footnote 29 quoting the opinion of Horav Elyashiv zt”l, Teshuvos Vhanhagos 1-638. According to Avnei Nezer Y.D. 365:1, placing a hyphen doesn’t help.
