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Questions tagged [malach-angel]

Relating to Angels in Judaism.

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Original Nikud for Raphael?

רָפָאֵל or רְפָאֵל What is the original nikud? I have seen some variation before and wonder if the name should begin with Kamatz or Sheva? Thank you for any help you can give.
עמנואל-העבד's user avatar
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Would it be forbidden to own images of angels?

Okay, I'll try be a little bit more specific. Say someone was in possession of an angelic figure(s), they did not create the figure, they ascribe no power to the figure, and they certainly don't ...
עמנואל-העבד's user avatar
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Deformed Malachim through Mispronunciation of Words in Tefilah

There is a common saying that whenever one mispronounces a word in tefila, a deformed malach is created that will testify against him in Beis Din shel Mala. Does anyone have source for this? The only ...
Shmuel Goldstein's user avatar
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How these malachim became involved with the origins of idolatry?

Parsha Shelach 13:33 says the following: And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim; and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight. The ...
Renato S. Grun's user avatar
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Malachim of Nations constantly fighting?

I think recall learning about how the Malachim of different nations fight each other very often, like raging Bulls, and this causes wars in the Earthly realm between nations. What is the source for ...
Adam's user avatar
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Seeking a source for Keruvim as destructive angels vs saintly children

I was wondering if anyone could please help me - I am seeking the source for the following vort: The Keruvim in Bereishis are described as destructive angles guarding gan eden, but we know them also ...
Dov's user avatar
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10 types of angels

In Hilchot Yesodei Hatorah 2:7 Rambam says: שִׁנּוּי שְׁמוֹת הַמַּלְאָכִים עַל שֵׁם מַעֲלָתָם הוּא. וּלְפִיכָךְ נִקְרָאִים חַיּוֹת הַקֹּדֶשׁ וְהֵם לְמַעְלָה מִן הַכּל וְאוֹפַנִּים וְאֶרְאֶלִּים ...
chessprogrammer's user avatar
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Are angels supernatural beings?

Today's popular view of angels is that they are supernatural beings with various powers. But the Biblical word מַלְאָךְ, mal'ak, can simply mean "messenger" or "agent", and it is translated as such ...
Ray Butterworth's user avatar
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How angel's strength is determined?

וַיִּוָּתֵר יַעֲקֹב לְבַדּוֹ וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ עַד עֲלוֹת הַשָּׁחַר׃ Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the break of dawn. (Gen 32.25) We already learned that: Angels ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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Angels saying Shirah before Hashem - "daily" rituals?

Rashi on Gen 32.27 כי עלה השחר. וְצָרִיךְ אֲנִי לוֹמַר שִׁירָה בַּיּוֹם (חולין צ"א): כי עלה השחר FOR THE DAY BREAKETH, and I have to sing God’s praise at day (Chullin 91b; Genesis Rabbah 78:1). ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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What is the Samach Mem?

I hear Chassidic stories that the Samach Mem causes Jews to fight, and other evil What is it? What is it's goal? What is it's powers? Why did G-d Almighty creat it? Where can I read more about ...
hazoriz's user avatar
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Why would G-d let angels speak on His behalf?

In regards to this question of mine I would like to ask: In Genesis/Bereshit 18:10 it seems that one of the men/angels visiting Avraham is saying that Sarah will give birth to a son, while in Genesis ...
Levi's user avatar
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Why not name a Jew "Lot"? [duplicate]

I never heard of a Jew named Lot. Are there not any? Why not? What did Lot do that disqualifies him? His righteousness and (exaggerated) hospitality allowed him to be spared the fate of Sodom. ...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
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Why does Rashi say Avraham thought the angels were wayfarers?

Rashi on Breishis 18:16 And the men arose from there, and they looked upon Sodom, and Abraham went with them to escort them, says to escort them: Heb. לְשַׁלְּחָם, to escort them. He thought ...
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Judging whether a rabbi resembles an angel

THe previous question "How should a rabbi resemble an angel" asked for the qualities a Rabbi should possess in order to be worthy of learning Torah from him. The Gemmarah prescribes that a rabbi must ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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How should a Rabbi resemble an angel?

The Gemmorah in Moed Katan 17 says: א"ר יוחנן... אם דומה הרב למלאך ה' יבקשו תורה מפיו ואם לאו אל יבקשו תורה מפיו Rabbi Yoḥanan said as follows: ... If the teacher is similar to an angel [...
Al Berko's user avatar
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Who opposes saying the Piyut מכניסי רחמים?

There is a long standing debate surrounding the piyut "מכניסי רחמים" which is said during selichot (words found here). The piyut is addressed to angels and the text aims to elicit the attributes of ...
bondonk's user avatar
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Why are the angels enjoined to leave at the end of "Shalom Alechem"? [duplicate]

Shalom Alechem, sung before the Shabbat Eve meal, concludes with: Tzetchem leshalom -- depart in peace. Why are the angels specifically enjoined to leave before the meal begins? I have heard that,...
Maurice Mizrahi's user avatar
2 votes
2 answers
102 views

Meaning of Targum's translation of Seraph - קליא

In Parshas Chukkas, God commands Moses to make a Seraph and put in on a standard: וַיֹּאמֶר ה' אֶל־מֹשֶׁה עֲשֵׂה לְךָ שָׂרָף וְשִׂים אֹתוֹ עַל־נֵס וְהָיָה כָּל־הַנָּשׁוּךְ וְרָאָה אֹתוֹ וָחָי׃ Then ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
158 views

What is the meaning of "וְדַעַת קְדֹשִׁים בִּינָה"?

The book of Mishlei contains deep wisdom with many layers of meaning which is often hard to grasp. Fortunately, such great commentators as Rashi provide clear explanations of the true meaning. However,...
Dan Weisberg's user avatar
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Do Angels (Still) Keep the Torah?

Both the pious pre-Talmudic Book of Jubilees1 and the Talmudic Gemara2 agree that Angels kept the Torah in Heaven long before it was finally revealed through Moses to the people of Israel.3 My ...
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2 votes
2 answers
254 views

Metatron an emanation from G-d?

What did Rabbi Simeon claimed when he said that ‘Metatron is a man in the image of G-d’, ‘an emanation from/of Him’? Rabbi Simeon ben Jochai commenting on the Zohar: “There is a perfect Man, who ...
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Do angels make requests of G-d?

Do angels make any requests of G-d besides praising and thanking Him?
Dan Weisberg's user avatar
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5 votes
2 answers
263 views

Why was it specifically Gavriel who is Hashem’s messenger to guide events?

Among all of the Malachim, Gavriel seems disproportionately involved in human events: He was responsible for saving Chananiah, Mishael, and Azariah from the fiery furnace (Berachos 4b, Pesachim 118a-...
DonielF's user avatar
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-2 votes
1 answer
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Did G-d and angels appeared dressed or naked to Adam in Eden?

First, we know that Adam and Eve were naked in Eden and didn't feel ashamed (Ber 2.25). "וַיִּהְיוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם עֲרוּמִּים הָאָדָם וְאִשְׁתּוֹ וְלֹא יִתְבֹּשָׁשׁוּ׃ The two of them were naked, ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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Why angels are needed in a monotheistic religion? [duplicate]

Moshe's questions about angels made me think: We see that G-d "acts" in the world either through angels (Sdom) or by "Himself" with no intermediator (Exodus). Why angels are needed at all in a ...
Al Berko's user avatar
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0 votes
0 answers
65 views

Source for R' Soloveitchik's teaching about why we don't stand for a baby in utero?

There's a famous teaching from Niddah 30b that a baby is taught the entire Torah in utero. Someone once referenced this gemara and asked The Rav, if that's the case why don't we stand for a pregnant ...
alicht's user avatar
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-1 votes
2 answers
147 views

Where is Heaven located?

God is infinite, omnipresent, beyond time and space, but what about angels and heaven? Surely they have limitations with regard to time and space? In the (Tehilas hashem) siddur, before Shema, it ...
larry909's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
269 views

Why does HaShem say, "I rebuke you Satan" in Zech 3:1-2.?

If Satan is obedient to G-d and works under his authority, why did HaShem reprimand him in Zechariah 3:1-2?
user89999's user avatar
-1 votes
2 answers
142 views

Can one see an angel?

Are there any sources saying how one can see or call an angel?
Moshe's user avatar
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Does the Midrash say we have guardian angels?

The Midrash quotes Rabbi Hama on the story where Jacob wrestled an angel but, not just any ordinary angel, but the guardian of Esau. Needless to say, Maimonides, I think said it was a symbolic ...
Turk Hill's user avatar
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7 votes
0 answers
118 views

How did the angel in "בבואו מאדום" Zemer make three mistakes?

I have always been puzzled by "בבואו מאדום" Zemer that many sing at Seuda Shlishis (actually found in the Bentcher as part of "Boruch Hashem Yom Yom"): בְּבוֹאוֹ מֵאֱדוֹם חֲמוּץ בְּגָדִים, זֶבַח ...
Doodle's user avatar
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Is the one who fights with Jacob in Genesis 32: 25-31 a simple emissary of Esau according to a current of Jewish tradition?

I am an Italian noahide. I read the following words written by an Italian Orthodox Jew about the figure of one who fights with Jacob in Genesis 32: 25-31 This figure is defined by the tradition "...
Amos74's user avatar
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10 votes
3 answers
205 views

Why are there angels?

I understand that the translation of the Hebrew word מלאך means "messenger" and an angel is "G-d's messenger." We see angels mentioned in various roles. Frequently, angels appear in dreams. Sometimes,...
DanF's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
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Eisav's angel fought Yaakov. Why Eisav's angel and not Gavriel?

I saw this dvar torah in a forum. "וַיֵּאָבֵק אִישׁ עִמּוֹ" (לב/כה) פירש רש"י ז"ל : "הוא שרו של עשיו" שואלים: בפסוק הנאמר על יוסף "וַיִּמְצָאֵהוּ אִישׁ וְהִנֵּה ...
Avrohom Yitzchok's user avatar
3 votes
3 answers
304 views

Angels Frequently Visiting Avraham

Rashi (Bereishis 16:13) notes that Hagar wasn't frightened to see angels because she normally saw angels frequenting Avraham's household: לְשׁוֹן תֵּמַהּ; וְכִי סְבוּרָה הָיִיתִי שֶׁאַף הֲלוֹם ...
NJM's user avatar
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2 votes
2 answers
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Guests are masters?

Rashi to Genesis 19:2 said that Lot called the angels his masters because: "וַיֹּאמֶר הִנֶּה נָּא־אֲדֹנַי סוּרוּ נָא אֶל־בֵּית עַבְדְּכֶם וְלִינוּ וְרַחֲצוּ רַגְלֵיכֶם וְהִשְׁכַּמְתֶּם ...
hazoriz's user avatar
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1 vote
1 answer
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Won’t let go unless you bless me

In the moment Yaakov is wrestling a adversary he says: ‘לא אשלחך כי אם ברכתני’, I wondered if there are any commentaries which reads this differently. I noticed that Rabbi Hirsch connects the root ...
Levi's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
155 views

Source for angels surrounding one’s bed at night?

Nusachei Ashkenaz and Sefard include the following phrase in Krias Shema at bedtime: בשם ה׳ אלקי ישראל מימיני מיכאל ומשמאלי גבריאל ומלפני אוריאל ומאחורי רפאל ועל ראשי שכינת קל In the Name of ...
DonielF's user avatar
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5 votes
3 answers
119 views

Angel helping to find a proper wife?

At one point in time Avraham asks his servant Eliezer to go out and search a wife for his son. In Bereshit 24:7 Avraham tells him that HaShem will send His messenger (malach) before him.. Eliezer ...
Levi's user avatar
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0 votes
1 answer
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How to define the Malach Panav from the book of Isaiah?

In Yeshayahu 63:9 there’s a mention of a ‘malach panav (מַלְאַךְ פָּנָיו)’, why is this malach refered to in this kind of way; why this specific entitlement; what does the combination of the words ...
Levi's user avatar
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0 votes
0 answers
746 views

Malach HaShem, Malach HaElohim and the way it presents itself

I’ve a question about Shemot 14:19 in which the malach ha’elohiem (מלאך האלהים) is mentioned. This verse explicitly says that this messenger who went before the camp, removed and went behind them ...
Levi's user avatar
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8 votes
1 answer
768 views

Can a person who died count to a minyan?

There are many stories, such as an account that one year when there was a person missing for the minyan in Chevron for the Yamim Neoraim Avraham Avinu showed up to be the tenth, (an angel? with Rav ...
Uriel Sussman's user avatar
1 vote
1 answer
83 views

What is the minimum number to comprise a band (גדוד)?

At the end of parsha 20 in Pesikta Rabbati, it refers to various bands (גדוד) of angels being shown to Moshe. Is there any minimum number as defined in Torah as to how many comprise a band?
Yaacov Deane's user avatar
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4 votes
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Can an angel perform multiple agencies?

Bereishis Rabbah 50:2 states that one angel cannot perform multiple tasks: אין מלאך אחד עושה שתי שליחות ולא שתי מלאכים עושים שליחות אחד. One angel cannot perform two agencies, nor can two ...
DonielF's user avatar
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3 votes
1 answer
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What are the angels doing in the blessing on light?

In the Yotzer Ohr prayer, we praise God for creating the light. It then moves on to an interlude about the ministering angels. What does that have to do with the light?
michael's user avatar
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4 votes
0 answers
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Why did the angel who destroyed Sodom have to visit Avraham? [duplicate]

רש"י בראשית \ וירא יח,ב והנה שלשה אנשים אֶחָד לְבַשֵׂר אֶת שָׂרָה וְאֶחָד לַהֲפֹךְ אֶת סְדוֹם וְאֶחָד לְרַפְּאוֹת אֶת אַבְרָהָם, ... וּרְפָאֵל שֶׁרִפָּא אֶת אַבְרָהָם הָלַךְ מִשָּׁם לְהַצִּיל אֶת ...
RibbisRabbiAndMore's user avatar
2 votes
1 answer
203 views

Can Angels "fall"?

According to this answer, the Pirkei D'Rabbi Eliezer (among other works) references an idea that angels "fell" -- were somehow separated from their holiness and "became" human. This answer states ...
rosends's user avatar
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2 votes
1 answer
144 views

Source that Song of Songs was spoken by the Cherubs in the temple

In a sermon on Passover a guest Rabbi stated that Song of Songs was actually the conversation spoken by the Cherubs in the Holy of Holies. He quoted a 'Rabbi Heller' in the latter's introduction to a ...
postinganonymously's user avatar
0 votes
1 answer
453 views

Please specify the identity and function of Metatron in Judaism

The title is pretty much self-explanatory. I know that Christianity doesn't support the existence of Metatron, as the Scripture in which Metatron is mentioned isn't a part of the Christian Bible. ...
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