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The following is from RSRH's commentary on Shemos 15:1<br><br>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><b><i>Then Moshe and the Children of
Israel sang this song to
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>God</font>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>; they said: I would sing to
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>God</font>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>, how exalted, exalted He has
been; the<br>
horse and its rider has He thrown into the sea.<br><br>
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=4>Ashirah</i></b></font>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>, I
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>would
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>sing, I
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>would like
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>to find words that are
worthy of<br>
Him and that properly express my inner state of excitement.<br>
How similar, and yet how different, are this opening of the Song at<br>
the Sea and the opening words of the poems of the nations.
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>Ashirah L'shem<br>
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>— so much
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>humility
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>is contained in this
opening and such devotion<br>
to God! In their case, however, we find:
“</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>Arma virumque
cano</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>” [“I sing<br>
of warfare and a man at war,” the opening words of Virgil’s
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>The
Aeneid</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>],<br>
“</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>Je chante ce
héros</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>” [“I sing of the
hero,” from Voltaire’s
</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3><i>Henriade
</i></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica" size=3>I, 1],<br>
etc. — words that express the poet’s arrogance and
self-centeredness.<br><br>
<hr>
Question: How many rabbonim can you name who have the knowledge to
make a comment like this? YL</font></body>
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