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Everyone is aware that on Succos we say Hallel everyday. RSRH in
his commentary on Psalms gives the following introduction into the
significance of Hallel. <br><br>
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>This series of Psalms
(113-118) constitutes one group,<br>
namely the "Hallel." This uplifting song of the Jewish nation
has accompanied<br>
us through the millennia of our wanderings through the ages, has<br>
kept alive within us the awareness of our mission in world history
and<br>
sustained us during days of trial. At the hour of redemption the Hallel
filled<br>
our mouths with hymns of praise to the Lord, and even now, on the
days<br>
appointed for the remembrance of the mighty acts of God which we
have<br>
experienced, the Hallel helps us relive the stem trials we have passed
through<br>
and the rejoicing that was ours at the time of deliverance. Finally, it
keeps<br>
our hearts and spirits receptive for whatever sadness or joy the future
might<br>
hold for us (see Pesahim 117a). God's wondrous mercy is at work not<br>
only in extraordinary occurrences, but also </font>in
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>the smooth, ordinary
course<br>
of daily life. ..... Indeed, the ever-growing
burden<br>
of <i>Galuth </i>makes the very survival of the Jewish people appear as
one<br>
continuous miracle of God's saving power so that the constant
recurrence<br>
of God's mighty acts causes them to pass us by unnoticed (Shabbath
13b).<br>
</font>It <font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>is most probably in
view of all the foregoing that our people has incorporated<br>
the hymn of HaIlel, except for some abridgments, into the order of<br>
prayers for every New Moon.<br><br>
Psalm 113 emphasizes the difference of the concept of God cherished<br>
by the Jewish people from that held by the rest of the world. Psalm
114<br>
deals with the historic election and destiny of Israel, which is to enter
into<br>
the course of the history of the nations on earth as God's holy people
with<br>
its own unique concept and worship of Him. Psalm 115 discusses the
ideas<br>
and ideals with which our obvious differences from the other nations
must<br>
imbue us even while we dwell in their midst. Psalm 116 proclaims
that<br>
unshakeable trust which we should derive, both for the present and for
all<br>
time to come, from all the dangers we have experienced and which we
have<br>
overcome only through God's help. This unalterable trust should serve
to<br>
sustain us constantly, regardless of the perils that the future may
bring.<br>
At the same time, we are reminded that our miraculous survival
qualifies<br>
and obliges us to an ever-growing extent to discharge our ordained task,
<br>
namely, as the messengers of God, </font>to
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>call upon men and nations to
recognize<br>
God and to worship Him. Such a call to all the nations is contained
</font>in <font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>the<br>
two verses of Psalm 117. To this is joined Psalm 118, calling upon all
men<br>
who thus return to God to join the Jewish nation in its homage to
Him,<br>
and, looking back upon the events of Jewish history now taking place<br>
before their very eyes, to adopt those convictions regarding the rule
of<br>
God and the calling of mankind which make all men enter into the
gates<br>
of the Jewish Sanctuary and worship as "their God" that God
Whose Law<br>
is taught there.<br><br>
<br>
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