Hallel and Al HaNissim
Reb Shlomo Kluger zt’l (ג"תרפ שלמה חכמת) discusses the following scenario:
A prisoner was granted a brief leave on Chanukah for a few hours. The question was whether he should go out at nighttime to light Chanukah lecht or leave in the morning so that he could say Hallel and Al HaNissim in beis medresh.
Reb Shlomo Kluger answered that he should leave prison in the morning to say Hallel and Al HaNissim with a minyan.
Most people consider Chanukah lecht the highlight of Chanukah. But from this discussion, we understand that perhaps Hallel and Al HaNissim are the highest points of Chanukah. Regardless of what is more important, we should certainly invest in saying Hallel and Al HaNissim with kavanah.
We quoted above the following words from the Kedushas Levi:
"Due to the tzidkus of Matisyahu ben Yochanan Kohen Gadol and his children, the gates of chesed and the gates of miracles open during the eight days of Chanukah. It is likely that the gates open when we light the Chanukah lecht and say Hallel and Al HaNissim. These draw down the chesed and miracles below."
Chazal (Shabbos 21:) say, יום להדליק אלא בו היה ולא קבעום אחרת לשנה ימים שמונה ממנו והדליקו נס בו נעשה אחד ובהודאה בהלל טובים ימים ועשאום , "The oil was sufficient for one day. A miracle occurred, and they used this oil for eight days. The following year, they established these days as a yom tov with Hallel and Al HaNissim."
The Sfas Emes says that the Gemara's words, והודאה בהלל טובים ימים ועשאום קבעום, imply that saying Hallel and Al HaNissim make and create the holiday. ועשאום קבעום, it became established, and it became a holiday בהלל והודאה, when we say Hallel and Al HaNissim.
The Tchebiner Rav zt’l said, “Hallel on Chanukah shouldn’t be like Hallel on Rosh Chodesh because Hallel on Rosh Chodesh is a minhag, while Hallel on Chanukah is a mitzvah.” Some Rishonim say that Hallel is a mitzvah from the Torah (see Reb Yeruchem Fishel Perlow’s commentary on Sma’g, mitzvas asei ס-נ, p.258).
It states (Mishlei 27:21), ואיש לזהב וכור לכסף מצרף מהללו לפי, "The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, and a man according to his praise." The Chida explains that while the refining pot and the furnace purify silver and gold, מהללו לפי איש, man becomes cleansed and pure when he praises Hashem.
It states (Tehillim 106:47), בתהלתך להשתבח. This means the person becomes improved, בתהלתך, by praising Hashem.
The Gemara (Pesachim 117) says, “We say Hallel עליהן תבא שלא וצרה צרה כל על, “for every tzarah that shouldn’t come...” The Ben Ish Chai says that these words imply that Hallel is mesugal, עליהן תבא שלא וצרה צרה כל על, that troubles won’t befall us.
The Bnei Yissaschar (Kislev, 4:134) teaches that when one praises Hashem, he can use that praise as a prayer to Hashem. For example, in the second brachah of Shemonah Esrei, we praise Hashem, חולים רופא, "Who heals the ill." As one says these words, he can intend a prayer, "Hashem, please heal so-and-so."
When one says a standard tefillah, the malachim may prevent it from going up, claiming that the person doesn’t deserve his requests to be considered. But malachim never prevent praises to Hashem from going up before Hashem. The praises go up, and Hashem hears the concealed plea and fills his request.
This is the meaning of the pasuk (Tehillim 18:4), אושע אויבי ומן 'ה אקרא מהולל, “I call out to Hashem with praises, and I am saved from my enemies.” Similarly, it states, עניתני כי אודך לישועה לי ותהי, "I praise You when I'm suffering, and I will certainly have my salvation."
The Sfas Emes zt’l said that when one says 'ה אנא in Hallel, all his requests can be fulfilled. Chassidim thought that the Sfas Emes was referring to the pasuk, הושיעה 'ה אנא נא, “Please Hashem, save us, now.” The Imrei Emes zt’l said that he thinks the Sfas Emes was referring to the pasuk, אני כי 'ה אנא עבדיך, “Please Hashem because I am Your servant.”
We will be saying the same words of Hallel for eight days, but don’t allow the routine to make you tired. Remember, saying Hallel is one of the highlights of Chanukah. The same applies to Al HaNissim. Try to make every tefillah unique and special.
