Monday, December 24, 2018

hashkafah philosophy - Asking From Angels Borchuni Lshalom


Jews usaly do not ask angels for help as per the RAMBAM. He writes (in Sanhedrin, Perek 11) in the fifth Yesod ha'Emunah the prohibition against serving Avodah Zarah -- that not only should a person not worship a Mal'ach, but he should also not make a Mal'ach a vehicle through which to reach Hashem. Yet in Sholom Alichem we ask the Angels we are addressing




בָּרְכוּנִי לְשָׁלוֹם מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁלוֹם מַלְאָכֵי עֶלְיוֹן



so we ask angels to bless us with peace.



Answer



The siddur “Ishei Yisroel MaihaGr”a” says the following (my translation from the 2008 edition) in a footnote, “I have seen in the name of the Gr”a (see what is written in the Keser Rosh simon 93) that he protests how can one ask for a blessing from the angels. But it seems that the one who heard this (protest) made an error because his words really apply to the piyyut “Malachei Rachamim”. But here this is not a request but rather we say that the angels are commanded by the King of Kings to bless us and so they should do as mentioned in Shabbos 119b.”


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