Selah

"Selah" describes secrecy, or the practice of being secretive. Selah is a Hebrew word of disputed meaning that appears in the book of Psalms in the Bible. A common theory regarding the word's meaning is that it denotes a silent pause before or during the sung portion of a psalm(hymn). From this understood meaning of "silence", the Family's use of "selah" as a code word for something "secret" or "classified" developed.

There are many layers of secrecy wrapping and protecting the core leadership. Some examples of "selah" practice:

• Disciples were given "Bible names" and were not allowed to know each other's "system name", so as to be able to answer authorities and accusers in honest ignorance.
• The group's policy of not disclosing what their true beliefs were, in order to avoid "persecution". Members show outsiders a façade, while leading very different lives and adhering to radically different beliefs on the inside.
• WS (World Services) units which handle publications and finances and operate in secrecy, even from most other members of the group.

Usage examples:

• "Don't tell anyone at the other home our address. It's selah"
• "Every night, someone should burn the selah trash [any sensitive communications or publications]"

See also: Secrecy.