Hallel

On most major Jewish holidays, including the three pilgrimage festivals of Pesach (Passover), Shavuot (Feast of Weeks), Sukkot (Feast of Booths), Shemini Atzeret (Eighth Day of Assembly), Simchat Torah (Joy of the Torah) and minor holidays such as Chanukah, Hallel, which derives from the Hebrew word meaning praise and consists of six psalms (Psalms 113-118 in their entirety) is recited as a single unit during the morning or Shacharit services immediately after the Amidah or standing prayer has been said. Hallel is also recited on Rosh Chodesh or the beginning of the Jewish month. Many communities will also say Hallel on Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day which falls on the fifth of the month of Iyyar) and Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day, which falls on the 28th of Iyyar).

Hallel is not said on the High Holidays—Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur or on Purim. The omission of Hallel on Purim seems curious because Hallel is filled with praises to G-d and Purim commemorates the Jewish People’s salvation from Haman’s evil decree. The reason we do not say Hallel on Purim is because the miracle of Purim happened outside of the Land of Israel and our reading of the Book of Esther is a substitute for Hallel. Hallel is also said during the Pesach Seder. The first two psalms, psalms 113 and 114 are said immediately prior to the meal while the remaining four are recited once Birkat HaMazon or the Grace after the Meal has been said.

There are two forms of the Hallel—Hallel Shalem or complete Hallel and Chatzi Hallel or half Hallel. Chatzi Hallel is said on Rosh Chodesh and on the list six days of Pesach while Hallel Shalem is recited at all other times when Hallel is said. Chatzi Hallel differs from Hallel Shalem because verses 1-11 from Psalms 115 and 116 are omitted.

Hallel contains many praises to G-d and expresses our gratitude to G-d for all of the miracles that we have yet experienced and a hope that we will continue to experience miracles far into the future. Hallel consists not only of collective or national praises to G-d but individual ones as well. According to the Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Pesachim 118A, Hallel contains five major themes or ideas within it. These include Yetziat Mitzrayim—the Exodus from Egypt, the splitting of the Yam Suf or Reed Sea, the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, the trials and tribulations that we encounter prior to our redemption with the coming of Moshiach or the Messiah and the revival of the dead.

As most of Hallel is sung or chanted by the congregation, a variety of melodies for various sections are commonly used. Many of these are traditional while others are more contemporary.