Why is 'Half-Hallel' said on Chol Hamoed and the latter days of Pesach?
Shulchan Aruch writes that on
Chol Hamoed and the latter days of Pesach,
Hallel is abridged. The
Mishnah Berurah explains that on the seventh day of Pesach, as the Mitzrim drowned, Hashem admonished the
malachim: "My creations are drowning in the sea and you wish to sing praises?!" It is therefore inappropriate for us, too, to say
Hallel. Hallel is also abridged on the intermediate days of Pesach so that they should not seem more important than the latter days of Yom Tov. Another reason why the complete
Hallel is not said on these days is that they are not distinguished from the previous days that are marked with a special
korban. The Gemara (
Eruchin 10a) says that complete
Hallel is recited only on days that are marked with a unique
korban.
(סעיף ד וס"ק ז; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 10)
Kriyas Hatorah on Chol Hamoed
Chazal chose a series of parshios to be read over Pesach. The specific order of these parshios changes only when the first day of Pesach falls on a Tuesday, and even then only one reading is altered. If on a given day of Pesach the
kriya of the following day was mistakenly read, then the
parsha that was skipped must be read the next day. If the error was noticed after just one or two
aliyos, some advocate switching to the correct day's reading at that point. Others hold that the
kriya that was started should be continued, and the one that was skipped should be made up the next day. All agree that they should switch to the correct
kriya if members of the
tzibur are not expected to
daven with this
minyan tomorrow
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Hilchos Tefilla 124 (page 295)
מסעיף ג עד סעיף ה
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The Chazan's Personal Shemoneh Esrei
When Does the Chazan Take His Three Steps Back?
Abridging the Chazan's Personal Tefilla
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When to start chazaras hashatz
The
chazan should begin his repetition when the majority of congregants complete their silent
tefilla. He does not need to wait for those who take a long time to
daven or for dignitaries, except in cases when the congregation's
davening is inappropriately fast. Nevertheless, it is preferable for the
chazan to wait for those who
daven slowly. The practice has developed for the
chazan to wait for the Rov or someone else of high stature who doesn't rush through his
tefilla. It is proper to follow this custom unless it disturbs the Rov. If the Rov feels that having people wait for him detracts from his
tefilla, it is permissible for him to signal to the
chazan to begin.
(
סעיף ג וס"ק יג; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 20-21)
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Listening to chazaras hashatz
There must be at least nine people listening to the
chazan's repetition. If the
chazan suspects that there will not be nine people listening, he should treat the repetition as a voluntary
tefilla. Every member of the congregation, even in a large congregation, should view himself as one of the nine essential listeners. It is not necessary to rush through
Shemoneh Esrei in order to hear the entire
chazaras hashatz. If for some reason a person missed hearing part of
chazaras hashatz (e.g. he had been
davening or out of the room when the
chazan started), he should listen to the balance of the repetition. There is benefit even in hearing only part of one
beracha.
(
סעיף ד וס"ק יח-יט; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 26 ו־30; וראה שם, 29)
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Paying attention to chazaras hashatz
During the
chazan's
chazara, the congregation should listen to the repetition and respond
Amein at the conclusion of each
beracha. Frivolous talk, special supplications (
techinos) and Tehillim are forbidden, and even Torah should not be discussed, though it is permitted to think Torah thoughts. One Acharon warns that those who recite special prayers during the repetition will not receive their requests and will even lose what they already have. Studying Torah is considered a
mitzva that comes through an
aveira. According to one opinion, someone who reviews
shnayim mikra during the repetition does not fulfill his obligation.
(
סעיף ד וס"ק יז; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 25-28)
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- Chazal instituted that the chazan should repeat the Shemoneh Esrei out loud to exempt those who do not know how to daven and to allow people to recite kedusha during the beracha of HaE-l Hakodosh.
- The chazan does not need to take three steps back upon completing the repetition. Instead, he can consider the three steps he will take after Kaddish Tiskabel as the steps needed after Shemoneh Esrei.
- If a minyan began late and it is not possible for everybody to daven silently and for the chazan to repeat the tefilla before the end of zmantefilla, the chazan may begin his personal Shemoneh Esrei out loud until after HaE-l Hakodosh (including kedusha).
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- Amein chatufa (swallowed)
- Responding baruch hu u'varuch shemo
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PLEASE NOTE: The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.
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