Our Gemara on amud aleph teaches that the righteous are greater than the ministering angels. But how can this be? Angels are fully spiritual beings who presumably perform God’s will without hesitation or resistance.

The Tanya (39) offers an extensive explanation of this idea. To my understanding, Tanya is stating that while angels occupy a high spiritual state, their level remains static and unchanging. Humans, on the other hand, are tasked with voluntarily striving toward God and elevating the physical world. Through the performance of mitzvos and the study of Torah with pure devotion, they generate spiritual momentum that can propel them beyond the angels. I use the word “momentum”, literally, as Be’er Mayim Chayyim (Bereishis 1:5) compare this to a bird that’s trapped inside a trap, upon escaping it shoots out with great force.

This aligns with the dictum in Berachos (34b): “In the place where penitents stand, even the fully righteous do not stand.”

There is a limit to human understanding, and we can never fully grasp the ultimate purpose of the universe. Yet, the very existence of a physical world—seemingly unnecessary for God—suggests that a process of development and elevation is essential. Spiritual realities remain in a steady state, while physical existence is dynamic, constantly moving either closer to God or further away.

This perspective profoundly shapes the Jewish view of the physical world. While hedonism and materialism for their own sake are shunned as destructive, the physical itself is not seen as an enemy. Rather, it serves a distinct mission: to be elevated through conscious effort. Even the possibility of sin is necessary, for without the potential for failure, choice would be meaningless. Just as absolute, blinding white light is indistinguishable from total darkness, so too, without contrast, there can be no vision.

Translations Courtesy of Sefaria, except when, sometimes, I disagree with the translation

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Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, Rabbi Simcha Feuerman, LCSW-R, DHL is a psychotherapist who works with high conflict couples and families. He can be reached via email at simchafeuerman@gmail.com