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On Rosh Chodesh and after the first days of Pesach we say Chatzi Hallel. Why on Chanuka do we say Hallel Shaleim?

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3 Answers 3

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Mishna B'rura says each day is separate from the last because each one commemorates an individual and independent chag that each day's nasi' made in celebration of his contribution to the dedication of the Mishkan. Similarly we say full halel each day of Sukos because each day had a separate type of karban.

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Could someone add a link to the quoted Mishna B'rura ? –  Anon_2Kislev71 Dec 3 '10 at 14:44
@WAF: if I'm understanding Mishnah Berurah correctly (hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14166&pgnum=298), he's saying that we say full Hallel each day because each day there was a new miracle (that the oil kept on burning) - nothing to do with the nesi'im. –  Alex Dec 3 '10 at 18:09

As heard from Rabbi David Twersky, saying Hallel on Rosh Chodesh was always just a minhag, and there was a desire to show that this was just a minhag so only half-Hallel was said (and some poskim held that a bracha should not be said on Rosh Chodesh for Hallel).

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Another answer is that for everyday we say Half Hallel during the Year we say a whole Hallel on Chanukah.That means if you count the Days you say Half Hallel on Yom Tovim they add up to 8 which corresponds to the days of Chanukah.

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How so? Other than Rosh Chodesh (of which there are a lot more than 8 during the year), we say half-Hallel on the last six days of Pesach. Where are the other two? –  Alex Dec 3 '10 at 18:05
Besides for Rosh Chodesh –  SimchasTorah Dec 3 '10 at 18:18
Sukkos shmini atzeres –  SimchasTorah Dec 3 '10 at 18:18
But on those we say whole Hallel. So what are the eight days of half-Hallel you're referring to? –  Alex Dec 5 '10 at 4:10

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