Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Vayishlah 5772: The Names Of The Angels

After wrestling with the angel, Jacob asks the entity for its name. The angel declines, saying "Why are you asking me for my name?" and then blesses him. A similar event takes place in Judges 13, when Manoah, the father of Samson, asks the angel for its name. There, the angel responds, "Why are you asking me for my name - it is unknowable!"

Although it sounds like the angels have secret names that they cannot divulge, Rashi has a different interpretation. He quotes a midrash that imagines the angel saying, "We angels do not have one name in particular. Our names change depending on the circumstances of our task at the moment."

That is why the angels say, "Why are you asking me for my name?" What they mean to say is "Why are you bothering to ask me my name? I could tell you, but it's going to change tomorrow, so what's the point in asking?"

Nonetheless, both Jacob and Manoah did the right thing by asking. It is never wrong for a Jew to ask a question. Questions lead to learning, and learning leads to goodness.

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