Angels in this weeks Parasha

[muman613]

This weeks Parasha contains mention of several 'angels'. First there are angels which Jacob sends as scouts to inform his brother {who is coming with 400 men to kill Jacob} that he seeks peace. There is some discussion as to whether these were actual angels in the 'spiritual' sense or they were just messengers. The Hebrew word for Angel is the same word for Messenger, Malach.

But we also encounter the story where Jacob wrestles with an angel. Some commentators claim this was the angel of Essau himself while others claim it is either the Arch Angel Gabriel or Michael.


Yaakov avinu's (our forefather Jacob's) midnight encounter with a mysterious angel: Who was this angel, what was his purpose, and by what name was he known? Yaakov overcomes the angel, and by doing so gains insight into all these questions. He also acquires for himself a new name, a new identity, and a new role to play in establishing the Divine presence here on this earth.

What do we learn from this? There are many lessons in this weeks Parasha. But the fact that an angel is a messenger should make us consider every message that we perceive. It is important for a Jew to live life every day looking for the messages from our father in Heaven. These messages should bring us to understand the ways of Hashem and provoke us to improve ourselves. If we ignore messages intended to help us we will never be able to rise to our full potential.

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/692875/jewish/What-Are-Angels.htm

Angel Functions

The Hebrew word for angel is "malach," which means messenger, for the angels are G‑d's messengers to perform various missions. Every angel is "programmed" to perform certain tasks; such as Michael who is dispatched on missions which are expressions of G‑d's kindness; Gavriel, who executes G‑d's severe judgments; and Rafael, whose responsibility it is to heal.8 Some angels are created for one specific task, and upon the task's completion cease to exist. According to the Zohar9 one of the angels' tasks is to transport our words of prayer and Torah-study before G‑d's throne.

Another type of angels are those that are created through the deeds of man. In the words of our Sages: "He who fulfills one mitzvah, acquires for himself one angel-advocate; he who commits one transgression, acquires against himself one angel-accuser."10 These are formed from the (intellectual and emotional) energy which one invests in the performance of a mitzvah, the study of Torah, or in prayer—or, conversely, energy applied in the execution of a sin.

According to some schools of thought, the term angel in Jewish literature can also refer to the rules of nature, which – though ostensibly "natural" powers – are also G‑dly endowed powers; His messengers that perform His will.11

In our daily prayers we refer to the songs of praise which the angels sing before G‑d. The angels have "shifts," singing at designated times of day or night. The type of praise they sing reflects the particular angel's spiritual status. The angels' singing is alluded to in the abovementioned story of Jacob's fight with the angel, at the end of which the angel pleaded with Jacob to free him "for the dawn has risen."12 According to the Midrash, the angel's rush was because his shift to sing before G‑d had arrived. Similarly, according to the Midrash, when Moses spent forty days studying with G‑d, he knew what time of day it was based on the changing shifts of the angels' singing.

PS: It is important to realize that we are never supposed to ascribe any power to angels. We are forbidden from praying 'to an angel'.  Angels are supposed to carry out the will of Hashem. While there are arguments as to whether angels have 'free will' as we understand it most sages imply that they don't, and those who say they do will add that since they are so close to Hashem they have absolutely no desire to go against his will...

[muman613]

Here is a discussion of who the angel who Jacob wrestled with:


http://asbee.net/vayishlachangel.htm

Background: After Jacob stole the blessing of Esav, he ran off to his uncle Laban to find refuge from an angry brother and to marry.  At Laban's house, Jacob has 12 children and acquires much wealth. After 20 years there, G-d appeared to him and reminded him of his vow to give one tenth of his wealth to G-d and to establish a house of G-d in Canaan. Jacob then ran away from Laban, and on his way home, he encountered a camp of angels. He sends greetings to Esav. The returning messengers report that Esav is on his way to encounter Jacob with 400 men. Imagining the worst, Jacob prepares to appease his brother by sending an elaborate gift (incl. tens of cows and goats). As Jacob is moving his family, he finds himself alone at a river, fighting a mysterious man-angel.

Genesis, chapter 32, verses 25-33:
Jacob remained alone, and a man strugled with him until the break of dawn. When he saw that he could not defeat him, he reached for the socket of Jacob's hip, so that the socket of Jacob's hip was strained as he wrestled with him. Then he said, "Let me go, for dawn is breaking."...bless me...not Jacob but Yisrael will be your name for you have fought with G-d and angels and prevailed...What is your name... Why should you ask..and he blessed him there.

1. What was the meaning of his encounter?
2. Who was the assailant?
3. Why did he attack?
4. What's the significance of his name change and blessing?
5. How does this fit into the context of the story?

Spiritual

Midrash: The spirit of Esav came and caused spiritual injury among  some of the progeny of Yaakov. Who were they? The generations who were forcibly converted.

Yalqut Shim'oni (12th cent. Provencal anthology of midrash): The angel was Michael, trying to convince Yaakov of his own strength. He blessed him and said, "May your children be as righteous as you."

Rashi (11th cent. French commentator): Jacob forced the angel of Esav to agree to the blessings of Isaac.

Rashbam (12th cent. grandson of Rashi): Jacob tried to run away from Esav. An angel stopped him and punished him because he should have trusted in G-d's  promise to bring him home safely.

Hizkuni  (13th cent.): The angel came to reassure him. He was punished, however. for fearing Esav.

Rabbi David Kimkhi  (13th cent. Provencal  grammmarian): No one will be able to hurt Jacob except for the rape of Dinah.

Nahmanides (13th cent. Spanish commentator): The angel told him not to pray to him ("you don't need my name in order to invoke it"), but only to G-d.

Maimonides: It was a dream.

Rabbi Elimelekh (early Hasidic Rabbi): 1)The angel attacked his sins(the dust). As Ya'akob struggled with his sins the dust went up to the heavens, as he was forgiven.

Keli Yakar  (Polish 16th cent. commentator): The evil inclination came to take advantage of Jacob's moral weakness; his newly acquired interest in sheep and wealth. He tried to blind him from his ability to see the mysteries of life.

R. Levi Yitzkhak of Berditchov  (19th cent. hasidic Rabbi): 1)Faith is the lower body. The upper body is understanding. On the basis of pure faith, Jacob is vulnerable unless it is bolstered by understanding. 2) Jacob's encounters with humans are also encounters with G-d.

Daniel J. Elazar (contemporary political scientist): The people Israel are represented by this episode: a person struggling with G-d. We are not called "Abraham" or "Isaac" who submitted wholeheartedly to G-d.

[muman613]

What is an angel? Short discussion of the Jewish concept of angels...

[muman613]

Rabbi Richman discusses Vayishlach in 2008:

[muman613]

It is interesting that Rabbi Richman mentions Perek Shira which I recently discussed in a thread a couple weeks ago. I wrote about how an article about Ravens being able to communicate sparked my interest in what the Torah told us about Ravens. I then went on to say that through nature we can learn about our relationship with Hashem, and through his creation we can see his Divine Providence. Every creature on earth sings a song to Hashem, and Perek Shira discusses what the angels of every creation sing to Hashem.

Here is a video by Rabbi Lazer Brody on this:

[muman613]

That was great! Do you do that for every sabbath? Also do you have any good websites for daily prayers to Hashem?

Hello reeder911,

A religious Jew who attends shul/synagogue on Shabbat will observe the Torah cycle which starts at the beginning of the Jewish year and finishes the week before the New year. This is what is called the Torah Parasha. This week we read Vayishlach...

Regarding a good source of Holy inspiration for Noachides I would point you to these:


http://noahidenations.com/

http://www.noahide.org/

http://lazerbrody.typepad.com/lazer_beams/2007/10/new-noahide-pra.html

http://noahidenations.com/noahide-education/articles/ethics-a-theology/153-prayer-thoughts-on-noahide-prayer

http://lazerbrody.typepad.com/lazer_beams/bnai_noach/

[muman613]

http://www.aish.com/atr/Angels.html?catid=909604

Angels

What does Judaism say about angels? Are they involved in our lives? I've always felt like I have a guardian angel, but I'd like to know more. Does it have a name? How do I communicate with it?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

First, let's try to understand exactly what an angel is.

If you see little children flying around your head with their wings flapping happily behind them, don't think these are angels. They're hallucinations! Real angels don't have bodies, wings, or one drop of physicality.

The reason, however they are quite often described as being winged humans (such as in Exodus 25:17, Isaiah 6:2, Ezekiel 1:5 and 10:18) is to help us understand something about their essence. This is similar to how the Torah describes God as having a "strong hand and outstretched arm." Of course, God doesn't have an arm! Rather, the Torah is conveying to us something about God's mighty strength in a way that we can understand. (Maimonides - Book of Knowledge 2:4)

Angels are defined as metaphysical beings who are messengers of God. They are spiritual, but they have no free will. They can only do exactly what they have been commanded to do by their Creator.

The word "Malach" (Hebrew for "angel") means "messenger," and it also translates as "work." In other words, an angel is a "messenger" of God who carries out His "work." Similarly, the English word "angel" comes from the Greek word "angelos" meaning "messenger" or "agent."

Angels are sometimes referred to as the "Heavenly Court," due to the fact that they administer the work of the King, God. That is to say, just as a King makes the plans but his court discharges them, so too God makes the plans and His angels discharge them.

This is meaning of the Midrash which says, "No blade of grass grows without an angel telling it to 'Grow!'" This teaches us that everything on earth has a spiritual counterpart that influences it. Even a blade of grass has an angel looking over it to make sure it receives nourishment, or causes it to die at its appointed time. Nations also have angels appointed over them. For example, the Torah recounts the famous story of Jacob fighting with Samael, the angel of Esav. (see Genesis 32:5, Midrash - Genesis Rabba 10:6, and "The Way of God" 2:5:3)

Each angel has only one particular task to fulfill. The most well-known angels are:

• Micha'el - (literally: "Who is like God") carries out God's missions of kindness. He accompanies a person on the right side, since "right" is always associated with kindness.

• Gavriel - "My strength is God" - is on the left side, which is always associated with the attributes of strength and judgment.

• Uriel - "My light is God" - goes in front of a person, as if illuminating the proper path to go.

• Raphael - "My healer is God" - protects a person from harm, and goes behind a person to "cover the backside."

Interestingly, we find three of these angels visiting Abraham in Genesis 18:2. Micha'el (kindness) had come to bring Sarah the good news of her pregnancy, Gavriel (judgment) came to overthrow Sodom, and Raphael (healing) came to heal Abraham following his circumcision. The angels such as those who spoke to Abraham were purely spiritual forces which appeared in human form.

Due to their unique nature, it is impossible to communicate with angels, although there have been stories of great Sages who were able to do so.

It is certainly forbidden to pray to angels. Not only forbidden, but it would be a waste of time since angels can only do what God tells them to do anyway!

However, God always has an attentive ear to his children, and He is waiting for your prayers. One good place to start is by reading the "Bedtime Shema," which includes a beautiful prayer about the four protecting angels that we mentioned above.

When you perform a mitzvah, you create an angel that accompanies you. The commandments which create that attachment are the true "guardian angels" of a person.

[muman613]

So you should not talk to family that have passed away??
ps Do the Noachides really believe Yeshua was bad, or do they mean the result of yeshua?

Hi,

Yes, according to our belief we should not 'consult withe the dead', that is an explicit command of the Torah... But according to some it is ok to 'talk' with them...

http://www.askmoses.com/en/article/424,1313/Is-it-forbidden-to-talk-to-the-deceased.html

There is no problem with talking to the soul of a departed person. The Torah (Deut. 18:11) tells us only that we are forbidden to "consult the dead." This means that one may not do any act with the goal of summoning the spirit of a dead person to ask them a question. The reason for this prohibition (see Chinuch, commandment 515) is because the Torah outlaws all forms of magic.
This does not meant that a person cannot address a departed one.

You might also want to read: "May I still speak to my relative who passed away?" and also "Why do people pray by the gravesites of holy people?".

Regarding the second question.... I don't know what they believe about that. For the most part Judaism does not spend any time discussing that topic. The Noachides will know when Hashem has redeemed the Jewish people and share in the messianic era.