Question
Is there any way in which the word hallelujah can be considered the highest praise we can offer to God?
Answer
There is a difference of opinion in the Talmud Yerushalmi (Sukah, ch. 3) whether “halleluya” (literally in Hebrew: praise G-d!) is one of G-d’s names or not. Even according to the opinion that answers in the negative, it surely is a high form of praising G-d, because most other words (except for: T’hallelya) for praise clearly do not contain G-d’s name at all. One must be careful to say the word with proper respect, and surely, not to say it in vain, or as a joke.
With Love of Israel,
Rav Ari Shvat
