RABBI SHALOM ROSNER
Hallelu Et Hashem Kol Goyim
A priest once asked Rav Chaim a question regarding a pasuk in Tehillim that we recite in Hallel. It says in Tehillim (117), Hallelu et Hashem kol goyim, shabehuhu kol ha’umim, all the nations of the world will praise G-d. Why? Ki gavar aleinu hasdo, because G-d showered us Jews with compassion. The priest did not comprehend why gentiles would praise G-d for showing compassion to the Jews. Rav Chaim Volozhin explained to the priest that we are not cognizant of all the evil schemes that you plotted against us. Only you know exactly what you have planned for us, and Hashem acts to protect us. That is to say, you may plan to blow up a bridge and destroy a caravan of Jews, but Hashem causes your explosive device to jam, and the Jewish caravan is saved. Only you are aware of this compassionate act of the Almighty, and therefore, only you can praise Him for His chessed toward us. Even in those generations where there appears to be tranquility, the other nations either plot unsuccessfully against us or seek to annihilate us not through physical means, but by doing all they can to degrade us spiritually. They recognize how G-d protects us even when it is not apparent to us.
Ana Hashem Ki Ani Avdecha
A story is told that the Lev Simcha, one of the Gerer Rebbeim, told his chassidim to have special kavannah when reciting the words ana Hashem during Hallel. There was an argument among the chassidim as to whether the Rebbe was referring to ana Hashem hoshia na, or ana Hashem hatzlicha na. The Rebbe’s son approached Rav Simcha to resolve the debate among the chassidim. The Rebbe responded that it was neither. He was referring to ana Hashem ki ani avdecha, which is the key to being a Jew: understanding that we are here to serve Hashem. Seder night in particular, we should state this verse with special concentration, special kavannah, as we are proclaiming that we went from being servants of Pharaoh to being avdei Hashem!
Ana Hashem Hoshia Na
As we recite Hallel and feel like we are on top of the world, it seems a bit strange that we are also asking for a yeshua, for salvation. Similarly, on Sukkot, we perform Hoshanot at a time of tremendous celebration. We cry out Hoshia na! It would seem more appropriate to conduct Hoshanot on Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur rather than on Sukkot, which is zman simchatenu. The Shemen Hatov explains that calling out to Hashem should not be limited to an eit tzara, to challenging times. We should turn to Hashem even at times of celebration, during Hallel and on Sukkot, expressing that we know Hashem is in charge, no matter what we are experiencing. In addition, twice in Tanakh the statement yehi Shem Hashem mevorach appears: once in Tehillim (113:2), which is cited in Hallel, and the other at the beginning of Iyov (1:21), when it states Hashem natan v’Hashem lakach, yehi Shem Hashem mevorach. Thus, we recognize and turn to Hashem in times of difficulty, as well as in times of celebration.
