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- Parashat Hashavua
- Torah Portion and Tanach
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2064
The famous distinction between the angels and Israel was that since Bnei Yisrael were the beneficiaries of the miracle, they were allowed to sing. But this singing had historically powerful impact, as Shemot Rabba (23:1) says that it set the throne of Hashem in the world. Therefore, it is difficult to view this event and reaction as something that caused any displeasure to Hashem.
There were two opposing and opposite worlds in creation before man was created – the world of spirituality, including the angels, and the world of animalistic physicality, in our world. When Hashem asked for the angels’ opinion about creating man, they objected (see Tehilim 8:5; Sanhedrin 38b). They were troubled by a creation that is a mix between the two worlds.
It was Hashem’s kindness to grant His creation some of His likeness (see Bereishit 1:26) and enable man to be not only a creation but also a creator (see Sanhedrin 65b). This is possible because of man’s ability to unite within him these two worlds. Man can also give an advantage to one world over the other, as he can be involved in a battle between the world of material and the world of spirit, a battle that can have cosmic implications.
The more the power of spirituality in man increases, the more it is opposed by an opposing force, as Chazal said: "The greater a person is, the greater his evil inclination is" (Sukka 52a). The more he succeeds, the more he is opposed by powers of impurity. However, at the end of the struggle, sanctity can prevail as the victor, as Ovadia describes in the battle between Israel and Edom (Ovadia 1:21).
The angels are unable to conquer the world of material because they have no point of connection with it. Man can, as occurred when Bnei Yisrael stood at the sea and showed belief in Hashem and travelled straight into it (Shemot 14:22). Although the Egyptians followed them into the sea, they did not have the power of self-sacrifice that Israel had. In that way, there was a decisive victory for the power of spirituality in the world. It was for that reason that it was time to sing. It was not a song that applied to angels, but a song of man, who was able to take part in the battle that brought a crucial victory for the side of spirituality that changed the world.

Parashat Hashavua: A Yeshiva and a Community Go Together
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | kislev 5785

Parashat Hashavua: What Will Happen in the “End of Days”?
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Tevet 5785

Parashat Hashavua: Gold, Silver, Precious Stones – Closeness to Hashem (part II)
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Adar 5785

Silence is Proper for the Wise and Sometimes for Prophets
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Tamuz 28 5780

When the Prohibitions of Eating and Benefiting from Chametz Begin
Chapter Three-Part Three
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed | 5775

Soaps and Cosmetics Kosher for Passover? (And a review of Pesach laws)
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed | 5575

Redemption From Egypt to Redemption Today
Rabbi Berel Wein | Tevet 20 5782

Joseph and the Four Cups of Wine
Rabbi Howard Joseph | Nisan 5763

P'ninat Mishpat: Unsuccessful Transfer of Yeshiva – part III
based on ruling 82138 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts
Beit Din Eretz Hemda - Gazit | Nisan 5784
Daf Yomi Sanhedrin Daf 107
R' Eli Stefansky | 5 Nisan 5785
