Question
In Psalm 150, along with hallelu_yah, the word hallelu_el also appears. Is halleluyah higher praise because Yah is higher than El?
Answer
True, Y-ah, as the attribute of mercy, is higher than E-l, which is the attribute of justice (E-lohim, literally means: powerful judge, see Shmot 22, 7 and Yona 3, 3), as mercy is given for thousands of generations and justice or punishment, only to 3 or 4 generations (Shmot 20, 5-6), and even then, only if the sons continue to act corruptly, as their fathers. On the other hand, according to the aforementioned opinion in the Talmud Yerushalmi, that opines that halleluyah is not the name of G-d, apparently Hallelu E-l would be higher. In short, there is a disagreement among sages on the topic.
With Love of Israel,
Rav Ari Shvat
