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Hallel on Yom Ha’Atzmaut: To Say or Not to Say?

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Why do we say Hallel on Yom Ha’Atzmaut?  The Gemara on Masechet  Pesachim, daf  117a, discusses the reason for the recitation of Hallel.  The Chachamim say, “The prophets instituted the recitation of Hallel at various times of the year whenever Jews are redeemed from dire straits.” Rashi (d”h Ve’al) adds that Chanukah is an example of reciting Hallel in celebration of redemption from a crisis.  The Meiri on the Gemara explains that if a miracle happens to a particular Jew or a community of Jews, then they may establish the day of redemption as a day to recite Hallel without a bracha. Only if the miracle occurred to all Jews, such as Chanukah, may we recite Hallel with a bracha.

Poskim dispute whether Yom Ha’aztmaut constitutes a miracle for the entire Jewish people and thus whether it is appropriate to say Hallel. Some argue that the rebuilding of the Beit Hamikdash constitutes a “redemption” for the entire Jewish nation, but that restoration of Jewish supremacy over a portion of Israel, namely what occurred on Yom Ha’Atzmaut, redeems only the Jews who reside in Israel, so it would not be fitting to recite Hallel on this day. However, the fact that the State of Israel is a safe haven for persecuted Jews worldwide does constitute redemption for all Jews, and thus is worthy of saying Hallel.

Thus, on the fifth day of Iyar, Yom Ha’Atzmaut, it is appropriate to celebrate and recite Hallel with a bracha, since it is the day that Jews were redeemed from having no place to go in times of persecution.

The Maharatz Chiyutz in Masechet Shabbat, daf 21b, asserts that we recite Hallel on Chanukah only because a Neis Nigleh,  “a blatant miracle,” occurred on that day.  He notes that the Gemara, in explaining why we celebrate Chanukah, mentions the miracle of the oil, but does not mention the military victory of the Chashmonaim. Based on this statement, some Rabbis argue that Hallel is inappropriate for Yom Ha’Atzmaut since no blatant miracle occurred during the establishment of the State of Israel and its War of Independence.  Although they acknowledge that many subtle miracles occurred, they argue that no obvious miracle occurred, such as one day’s supply of eight days.

Other argue that many miracles occurred on Yom Ha’Atzmaut.  For example, Rav Yehudah Amital, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivat Har Etzion, recalls that when he enlisted in the army, he was assigned the rank of officer. They told him that since he knew how to shoot a gun, he was qualified to serve as an officer.

This story typifies the desperate situation that we faced in the War of Independence. Without a doubt, the Jewish people emerged victorious in 1948 because of G-d’s guiding hand.  Many claim that this constitutes sufficient reason to recite Hallel on Yom Ha’Atzmaut.  Rav Amital has stated many times that even if one does not believe it is appropriate to recite Hallel on Yom Ha’Atzmaut, one should find some way to express gratitude to Hashem for giving us the State of Israel.

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