Hallel (הלל) — Praise

Core definition

Hallel is praise — the lauding and thanksgiving of Havayah for the revelation He bestows, and the arousal of further revelation through the praise itself. It is said on Yom Tov because "it is the matter of praise and thanksgiving (הילול והודאה) for the revelation that was revealed" [57653/maamar_002 :: עב׳ 75–76].

How the Rebbeim develop it

Praise works in two directions. First, as thanksgiving for the revelation already received. Second, as arousal: "And Hallel is also that through the praise and lauding, the revelation is aroused" [57653/maamar_002 :: עב׳ 77–78]. The example is from the Zohar (Idra Rabba): the praises with which they praised Rashbi — "Rabbi Yitzchak, he calls me 'praise'" — though Rashbi was "in truth very far from these praises," "through these praises they aroused him to bestow upon them the secrets of Torah" [57653/maamar_002 :: עב׳ 78–81]. "Like one who requests of his fellow: to arouse his great goodness is through praises" [57653/maamar_002 :: עב׳ 84]. This is the meaning of the Sages' teaching: "a person should always arrange the praise of his Master and afterward pray, to request blessing and healing" (Berachos 32a) — the praise opens the channel; the request follows [57653/maamar_002 :: עב׳ 85].

"And these are the two meanings of the word 'Hallel'": on the one hand, "to be able to receive the revelation of joy in his soul — this is through the praise"; on the other hand, "then, when he apprehends, he can laud and praise because of the revelation revealed to him" [57653/maamar_002 :: עב׳ 88–90]. The praise both draws the revelation and answers it.

The parable is of the king: "at the time of his joy he is revealed to every eye — unlike in not the time of joy, when he is closed and locked in chamber after chamber. So then they can praise him, being moved by the revelation of the splendor of his kingship that is revealed" [57653/maamar_002 :: עב׳ 91–95]. On Yom Tov there is the revelation of the mochin of Imma — "a joyful mother of children" (אם הבנים שמחה, Tehillim 113:9) — "then we say Hallel with song and melody" [57653/maamar_002 :: עב׳ 96–97]. On Shabbos, by contrast, there is the revelation of the mochin of Abba — higher than the mochin of Imma — "there is no aspect of joy but rest specifically, and we do not read the Hallel" [57653/maamar_002 :: עב׳ 108–109]. Hallel belongs to the joy of revelation, not to rest.

Above too, praise is the response of creation to its Creator: "יהללו את שם הוי׳ כי הוא ציוה ונבראו" — "let them praise the Havayah-name, for He commanded and they were created" (Tehillim 148:5) [15911/maamar_019 :: עב׳ 234]. And in avodah, Tiferes is the middah of "glorifying Havayah and His Torah in all kinds of glory — speaking in His praises in all his nefesh's level" [15966/maamar_026 :: עב׳ 549].

Key distinctions

Related concepts

Hoda'ah (thanksgiving), Shir (song), the mochin of Imma and Abba, the king's joy, Tiferes (glorifying Havayah), "יהללו את שם הוי'".

Sources