The Gemara tells that at the time of קריעת ים סוף – the splitting of the sea – the angels in the heavens wanted to sing to Hashem to praise Him for this great miracle. But Hashem did not allow them to sing, saying, מעשה ידי טובעין בים ואתם אומרים שירה – “My creations are drowning at sea, and you want to sing?!” As wicked as the Egyptians were, they were nevertheless Hashem’s creatures, and so it was inappropriate to sing while they dying.
Many commentators raised the obvious question of how Beneh Yisrael were allowed to sing at this time. As we read on the seventh day of Pesach, Beneh Yisrael sang the beautiful song of Az Yashir, the most famous song in the entire Tanach, which has been incorporated into our daily payer service, recited each morning. If it is inappropriate to sing praise over the demise of our enemies, then why were Beneh Yisrael allowed to sing?
The answer given by a number of commentators is that the angels wanted to sing as the events were unfolding, as the Egyptians were being drowned. At that time, it was inappropriate to sing praise. Beneh Yisrael, however, sang after the event, once they had crossed and the Egyptians had already drowned. At this point, it was proper to sing and express gratitude to Hashem for saving them.
We might draw an analogy to a seriously ill patient who, after much suffering, was finally able to undergo surgery that would cure his condition. Of course, the patient and his family are very relieved and overjoyed. However, while the complicated operation is being performed, they are not celebrating. They are somberly and anxiously praying that it is successful. Nobody ever saw family members singing and dancing waiting outside the operating rooms. After the operation, however, festivity is certainly warranted.
The Egyptians who persecuted Beneh Yisrael needed to be eliminated, and so their demise is something to celebrate – but only after the fact. During the “operation,” while people are suffering and experiencing pain, celebration is inappropriate. Even if those people are evil like the Egyptians who enslaved, killed and tortured Beneh Yisrael, their pain and suffering should not be celebrated.
Many of us have people whom we resent or have negative feelings towards, for one reason or another. In many instances, our grievances are valid. But even if they are, when these people are hurting, we should not be knocking them down. We should not celebrate when somebody who wronged us suffers a financial loss, takes ill, or is publicly humiliated. Even people we dislike – and even those whom we feel we have a right to dislike – are Hashem’s creatures. Their misfortune should never be a cause of celebration.
One of the themes of Pesach is royalty. We conduct ourselves in a regal manner, commemorating the fact that we were lifted from the lowest depths of humiliation and suffering to the highest possible stature – the stature of Hashem’s servants. Pettiness such as “getting back” at people is beneath us. We are all “noblemen,” Hashem’s servants, and we must therefore act at all times in a dignified, mature manner.
If we have a valid grievance against somebody who now is having a hard time and needs help, we should be strong enough to feel his pain and extend a helping hand. This is the way Hashem’s special nation is supposed to act.