“You shall not do thus to Hashem your G-d.” (Devarim 12:4)
Moshe commands the people that they should uproot all objects of idolatrous worship from the land. He then enjoins the nation not to treat Hashem in this manner. Rashi explains the simple meaning of the pasuk. It is prohibited to destroy any stone of the holy altar of the Temple.[1]
Sefer HaChinuch points out that this mitzvah
includes a variety of prohibitions. As
explained above, it explicitly prohibits destroying a stone from the altar of
the Bait HaMikdash. The mitzvah
includes destroying other parts of the Bait HaMikdash. But the mitzvah also includes a prohibition
against erasing various names used to refer to Hashem and the destruction of
sacred texts.
Sefer HaChinuch explains that these seeming
disparate prohibitions are all included in the commandment because they are
expressions of a common theme. The
altar, the names used to refer to Hashem, the sacred texts and all of the other
objects included in this prohibition are associated with Hashem. The common theme is that we are not
permitted to destroy something that has this association. So, although the items and objects included
in this mitzvah are disparate, they share the key common feature that includes
them in this prohibition.
Sefer HaChinuch explains that this mitzvah has an
obvious function. We are required to
fear Hashem and hold Him in awe. This
mitzvah requires that we treat objects associated with Hashem with respect and
reverence. This reinforces our sense of
awe and fear of Hashem.[2] In other words, in order to encourage us to
develop the proper sense of fear and awe towards Hashem, we are commanded to
treat with reverence even those objects or names that are closely associated
with Him.
There are a number of other mitzvot and halachot
that are designed to instill within us the proper attitude of fear and awe for
Hashem. One of the most interesting
examples is discussed by the Talmud in Tractate Meggilah. The Talmud explains that the Sages created
various blessings of praise. We are
required to recite these blessings on the appropriate occasions. However, it is prohibited to praise Hashem
beyond the blessings and prayers created by the Sages. Precisely, what activity the Talmud is
prohibiting is not obvious. Rashi
suggests that the prohibition is to recite or establish a blessing not required
by our Sages.[3]
What is the reason for this prohibition? After all, we would assume that praising
Hashem is a positive behavior! What can
be the problem with praise? The Talmud
explains that these unauthorized praises are prohibited based on the passage in
Tehillim – Who will utter the greatness of Hashem? He who will make heard all of His praise.[4],[5] What is the meaning of this passage and how
does it apply to our issue? Again, Rash
provides an explanation. He comments
that it is not possible for us to praise Hashem in a manner that fully captures
or corresponds with His greatness.
Therefore, we are required to limit our praises to those constructed by
the Sages. The meaning of the passage
is that only one who can fully capture Hashem’s greatness has the authority or
right to praise Him. The Talmud
extrapolates from the passage that we must limit our praise of Hashem to those
prayers formulated by the Sages.
The discussion in the Talmud presents a small
problem. In order to understand this
problem, let us study more carefully one aspect of the Talmud’s
discussion. The Talmud posits that it
is not appropriate for us to construct or establish new blessings and praises
because we cannot fully capture Hashem’s greatness. Why do the limits of our understanding of Hashem, generate a
prohibition against creating and establishing blessings? It seems that the position of the Talmud is
that because we cannot fully comprehend Hashem’s greatness, any praise that
present is really an understatement.
Our intent is to praise Him. But
instead, our attempts at praise are diminutions of His greatness.
This raises a question. If our praises are really diminutions, why are permitted to
praise Hashem using the blessings and prayers formulated by our Sages. Our Sages were great scholars and
individuals of remarkable righteousness.
But they were human beings. The
pasuk from Tehillim quoted by the Talmud seems to indicate that no human being
can fully grasp the greatness of Hashem.
Our understanding is limited by our fundamental material nature. This limitation applies to our Sages as well
as to us.
It seems that the Torah allows us to praise Hashem
in order to satisfy our need to relate to Hashem. True, we cannot offer praise that is fully proper. But we cannot serve and worship Hashem if we
cannot in any way form a relationship with Him. In order to facilitate the development of a relationship with Hashem,
we are permitted and encouraged to offer praise. This praise is not completely accurate or even completely
appropriate. But our need to relate to
Hashem requires that we offer praise.
This is a remarkable idea. We are not praising Hashem because He needs the praise. Neither does the Talmud regard the praise as
accurate or even fully appropriate.
Instead, the praise is designed to serve our needs. In other words, we are permitted to
inadvertently make statements which are really an attenuation of Hashem’s
greatness in order to respond to our spiritual needs.
We can now understand the Talmud’s insistence that
we restrict ourselves to the prayers and blessings formulated by the
Sages. We must recognize that any
praise that we offer is inaccurate. But
there are two potential causes of inaccuracy.
First, as the Talmud explains, human beings are innately limited in
their grasp of Hashem. Second, even
within the limits of our incomplete comprehension, we may not be accurate in
our understanding of Hashem. If our
incomplete comprehension is flawed, the praises that we formulate will reflect
this shortcoming. We cannot overcome
the innate limitations upon our understanding of Hashem. But we can eliminate any additional flaws
that may exist in our concept of Hashem.
We can rely upon the praises that were developed by our Sages. In other words, because we are required to
offer praise that is as accurate as possible we must rely on the praises
formulated by our Sages.
Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik Z”L suggests that this
idea is contained in the Baruch She’Amar blessing that introduces Pesukai
De’Zimra or Zemirot. This blessing has
three parts. It begins with a
discussion of Hashem’s greatness. Then,
it continues by noting that Hashem has been praised by His nation and His
righteous. Special note is made of the
Psalms – the Tehillim – composed by King David. Last, we proclaim that we too will not praise Hashem. Rav Soloveitchik suggested that this
blessing is an appropriate introduction to the Zemirot we are about to
recite. He suggests that we are
reminding ourselves of the justification for praising Hashem. The Sages and specifically King David
created praises for Hashem. We will
rely on King David’s creations!
Rav Soloveitchik proposes that this understanding of
Baruch She’Amar explains a custom of Rav Eliyahu of Vilna – the GRA. The GRA insisted on reciting Mizmor Shir
Chanukat HaBayit LeDavid after Baruch She'Amar. Rav Soloveitchik suggested that the GRA maintains that Baruch
She’Amar provides the justification for offering praise. Therefore, we should not recite King David’s
Psalms before we recite Baruch She'Amar.
Mizmor Shir is a chapter from Tehillim.
Therefore, it is not appropriate to recite this chapter before we have
properly introduced King David’s Psalms.