By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com There are 14 things to know about the half Hallel of Pesach.  There is, of course,  a difference between the two Chol HaMoeds.  Why do we only say half Hallel on Chol HaMoed Pesach, but full Hallel on Chol HaMoed Sukkos? It seems that there are a few answers or combinations of answers provided by the Gemorah and meforshim. The Gemorah itself in Arachin 9a tells us that the offerings on Pesach are all the same after the first day. However, the offerings on Sukkos are different each day. The Shibolei HaLeket quoted by the Bais Yosef (OC 490) quotes the Midrash that Hashem prevented the malachim from singing Hallel at the time that the Mitzrim were drowning. Hashem said, “Maasei Yaddai tovim bayam v’attem omrim shira? – My handiwork are drowning in the sea, and YOU ARE RECITING HALLEL??” Another Midrash explains that it is because of the pasuk in Mishlei 24:18 which says, “In the falling (death) of your enemy – do not rejoice.” [It could be that the pasuk in Mishlei and the Midrash are one answer together. Or it could be that they are two different answers.] The Taz (OC 490:3) and Chavos Yair (225) explain that because of the midrash, full Hallel cannot be said on the seventh day of Passover, and it would be a bizayon, a disgrace to the Yom Tov – if Chol HaMoed had a more extensive Hallel than the last day of Yom Tov itself. Therefore, we limit the hallel recited on Chol HaMoed Pesach as well.  Rav Aharon Kotler in Mishnas Rebbe Aharon Maamarim (Vol. II p.3) explains that there are so many answers here, because there are two types of Hallel that can be recited – one for a Yom Tov and one for the experience of a Nais – a miracle.  He writes that both reasons are needed to explain why the full Hallel is not said.  It doesn’t require a full Hallel because of the fact that Musaf offerings do not warrant it.  It would require it because of the Nais aspect – were it not for the fact that there was the suffering of the Mitzrim. Also, what we recite on Chol HaMoed isn’t really half hallel.  It is more like 81 percent (62 lines out of 77 lines in the ArtScroll Siddur).  Is there a reason why its so much more than half? The truth is that there are contradictory Psukim in Mishlei.  There is (24:18):  In the falling (death) of your enemy – do not rejoice. But there is another seemingly contradictory earlier verse, also written by Shlomo HaMelech – “In the death of evil-doers – exhuberance! (Mishlei 11:10). How are these two verses to be understood together? THE RALBAG’S UNDERSTANDING – BEING TOO HAPPY IS NO GOOD – The Ralbag in interpreting the pasuk just before pasuk 18 in chapter 24, writes that inappropriate rejoicing over the matter will lead to Hashem removing His Divine Anger against that enemy and placing it upon you. It is clear from this Ralbag that too much rejoicing is wrong and dangerous.  But what is too much?  It is interesting to note that the Alshich in Esther (5:3) writes that this is exactly why Esther wished to make Haman rejoice […]

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