Tearing Garments upon Hearing the "Blessing" of God's Name
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Question
Is it permissible in our time to be lenient about tearing garments upon hearing the "blessing" of God's Name?
Answer
One who hears the "blessing" of God's Name is obligated to tear their garments even in our time.
Source
Talmud, Sanhedrin, page 60a: "And Rav Yehuda said in the name of Shmuel: one tears only for the unique Name, excluding nicknames - no. And they disagree with Rabbi Chiya on both matters. For Rabbi Chiya said: one who hears the mention in our time is not obligated to tear, for if you do not say so - the entire garment would be filled with tears. From whom? If from a Jew - are they so negligent? Rather, obviously from a non-Jew, and if it is the unique Name - do they know? Rather, no - it is a nickname, and we learn from here: in our time - no, but originally - obligated, we learn from here."
Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 340, Paragraph 37 rules like Rabbi Chiya that one is obligated to tear even for a nickname, and rules like Rabbi Yehuda in the name of Shmuel that one is obligated to tear even in our time, and here are his words: "One who hears the blessing of the Name, and even the blessing of a nickname, is obligated to tear."