Praise and Jewish Destiny
Hallel · Shabbat · Israel · Holiness
בשם אדוני מו"ז ז"ל על מה שתקנו בהלל והודאה כי זה עיקר כחן של בני ישראל.
“In the name of my master and grandfather, of blessed memory, regarding what they established in Hallel and thanksgiving, for this is the essential power of the Children of Israel.”
He teaches that the spiritual capacity of Israel is expressed primarily through praise and gratitude to God.
ואיתא במדרש כי אדם הראשון אמר לכל הבריאה בואו נשתחוה נכרעה כו' והיינו שהוא הי' כולל כל הברואים ובהכנעת עצמו נכנעו כולם.
“And it is stated in the Midrash that Adam the First said to all creation: ‘Come, let us bow and kneel,’ meaning that he encompassed all creatures, and through his own submission, all were humbled.”
Adam originally contained all beings within himself, so his own self-nullification elevated and aligned the entire cosmos.
אך אחר החטא שנתערב טוב ורע נבחרו בני ישראל.
“But after the sin, when good and evil became mixed, the Children of Israel were chosen.”
Following the primordial fall, a distinct people was needed to restore clarity and holiness.
ותיקן מרע"ה זאת לבנ"י.
“And Moses our teacher repaired this for Israel.”
Moses restored Israel’s ability to channel the cosmic praise Adam once embodied.
ולכן אומרים בקבלת שבת לכו נרננה כי מרע"ה נותן זה הכח לבני ישראל בכל שבת כדאיתא לך והודיעם עכ"ד ז"ל.
“Therefore we say in Kabbalat Shabbat ‘Come, let us sing,’ for Moses grants this power to Israel every Shabbat, as it is said: ‘Go and tell them,’ as my teacher explained.”
Shabbat renews Israel’s capacity for song, a power transmitted through Moses.
וכ"כ עם זו יצרתי כו' תהלתי יספרו.
“Thus it is written: ‘This people I have formed… My praise they will recount.’”
Israel’s purpose is to express divine praise; not all beings are capable of this.
כי לא כל מי שרוצה יכול לספר תהלות ה'. רק בנ"י שנבראו לכבודו בלבד.
“For not everyone who wishes can recount God’s praises—only Israel, who were created solely for His glory.”
Praise is a unique spiritual function accessible only to Israel.
וגם לא כל הזמנים מסוגלים לזה רק השבת קודש שנקרא סהדותא.
“And not all times are suited for this—only the holy Shabbat, which is called a testimony.”
Shabbat alone fully reveals the divine reality that enables true song.
וכ' מכנף הארץ זמירות שמענו והוא ארץ ישראל שכולל כל המקומות וכמו כן בנ"י כוללים כל הנפשות כמ"ש במ"א והרשעים מעכבין שלא יוכל להתגלות כבודו ית' בעולם.
“As it is written: ‘From the edge of the earth we have heard songs,’ referring to the Land of Israel, which includes all places; likewise, Israel contains all souls, as explained elsewhere, but the wicked obstruct the revelation of God’s glory in the world.”
The unity of Israel mirrors the unity of the Land, yet evil forces block full manifestation of divine praise.
ולכן באיבוד הרשעים מתחזקין בנ"י בהלל והודאה.
“Therefore, with the removal of the wicked, Israel becomes strengthened in praise and thanksgiving.”
When obstruction falls away, the innate song of Israel intensifies.
ויתכן ג"כ לרמוז מכנף הארץ על ימי חנוכה שהוא הנס האחרון שהי' בדורות השפלים.
“It is also possible that ‘from the edge of the earth’ hints at the days of Chanuka, the final miracle in lowly generations.”
Chanuka represents divine light emerging in spiritually diminished times.
ואיתא הבוחר בשירי זמרה הוא ג"כ השיריים.
“And it is taught that ‘He who chooses songs of praise’ also refers to the remnants.”
The remaining traces of sacred song are themselves chosen by God.
שבודאי עיקר השיר הי' בזמן המקדש משוש לכל הארץ.
“For surely the primary song was in the time of the Temple, the joy of the whole earth.”
The Temple was the world’s center of divine music.
אבל נשאר רשימה ושיריים בפיהם של בנ"י.
“But a trace and remnant remained in the mouths of Israel.”
Even after destruction, the essence of the Temple’s song survives within Israel.
ויתכן ג"כ שהי' מדה במדה על ידי שהרשעים העיזו פניהם לבטל השיר גם בהיות המקדש קיים.
“And it is also possible that measure-for-measure, since the wicked brazenly sought to abolish song even when the Temple stood…”
The enemies of Israel attempted to silence holiness at its source.
לכן נקם השי"ת נקמתינו והשאיר לנו שירות ותשבחות מעין השיר שבמקדש גם עתה שאין לנו בהמ"ק.
“Therefore God avenged us and left us hymns and praises—an echo of the Temple’s song—even now, when we have no Temple.”
Divine justice ensured that sacred song would continue to exist in Israel even in exile.
The Sefat Emet teaches that Israel’s unique power is praise, rooted in Adam, restored by Moses, renewed on Shabbat, and preserved through Chanuka as a remnant of the Temple’s cosmic song.