Rabbi Roodyn

Rosh Chodesh is an appropriate time to start our new topic, an in depth study of the pesukim, the themes and ideas of the chapters that make up Hallel. These songs of praise punctuate our year and allow us to express our feelings of simcha and delight on the Yamim Tovim. This limmud will PG accompany us through the long winter months, through Chanukah and perhaps until Pesach.

The idea here is simple, the words of Hallel often have multiple meanings and connotations as explained by the various meforshim. Through studying them and understanding them, we are better able to express our feelings of joy to Hashem through these beautiful words.

Rav Hirsch introduces us to Hallel by saying that these uplifting song of the Jewish nation has accompanied us through the millennia of our wanderings, has kept alive within us the awareness of our mission in world history and has sustained us during days of trial.

At the hour of redemption, Hallel filled our mouths with songs of praise to Hashem and even now, on the days appointed for remembrance of the mighty acts of Hashem that we have experienced, Hallel helps us relive the stern trials that we have lived through and the rejoicing that was ours at the time of deliverance. Finally, it keeps out hearts and spirits receptive for whatever sadness or joy the future may hold for us.

Hashem’s wondrous mercy is at work not only extraordinary occurrences but also in the smooth, ordinary course of daily life as we are taught by chazal in the medrash (Bereishis Rabba 97) ‘Just as redemption is a wondrous event, so too parnassa is a wondrous thing. Just as parnassa comes daily, so too redemption comes daily.’

Indeed the ever growing burden of exile makes the very survival of the Jewish people appear as one continuous miracle of G-d’s saving power, so that the constant recurrence of G-d’s mighty acts causes them to pass us by unnoticed.

Rav Hirsch therefore suggests that this may be the reason for our minhag to say half Hallel each Rosh Chodesh, as the moon’s waxing and waning and ultimate renewal is symbolic of Jewish history and destiny.