The Kitniyot Liberation Front

(To download the Al HaNissim prayer, go to  http://machonshilo.org/en/images/stories/files/Al_HaNissim_YA_YY_Revised.pdf ) As was the case last year, the observance of Yom HaAtzmaout is on the 6th of Iyyar although  the State of Israel was actually declared on the 5th of Iyyar .  The holiday was delayed so that the Memorial Day Services of the 4th of Iyyar could begin tonight--Sunday night--rather than Saturday night and preserve the sanctity of the Shabbat avoid the temptation to prepare for the various ceremonies or drive to them on the Shabbat.  If Judaism lends importance to actual date of an event, how can we reconcile the following issues: While Rav Goren zt"l ruled that the proper day should be observed, how can we separate ourselves from the public who observes the deferred day? When should we recite the Hallel prayer? Isn't the recitation of the Hallel a prayer in vain if we're not saying it on the day of the miracle? When do we add the Al-HaNissim prayer to

In most years, the observance of Yom HaAtzmaout is not celebrated on the actual day that the State of Israel was declared (the 5th of Iyyar) in order to prevent a desecration of the Sabbath. This year, it is celebrated on the 6th of Iyyar, so that the Memorial Day Services begin on Sunday night rather than Saturday night. (In fact, the next time that Yom HaAtzmaout will be celebrated on the 5th of Iyyar is in the year 2020!!) If Judaism lends importance to actual date of an event, how can we reconcile the following issues: Rav Goren zt"l ruled that the proper day should be observed, but what about separating ourselves from the public who observes the deferred day? When should we recite the Hallel prayer? Isn't it in vain if we're not saying it on the day of the miracle? When do we add the Al-HaNissim prayer to our Birkath HaMazon and Shmona Esray? Rav Bar-Hayyim suggests that we look to "Purim Meshulash" for the answer. The festivities and customs of the day shou

'על הניסים' לה' באייר - יום תקומת ישראל (יום העצמאות) עַל הַנִּסִּים, הַגְּבוּרוֹת, הַתְּשוּעוֹת, הַמִּלְחָמוֹת וְהַפְּדוּת שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ עִמָּנוּ וְעִם אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה. בִּימֵי תְקוּמָתֵנוּ, בְּקוּם עָלֵינוּ בְּנֵי עֲרָב, לְהַשְׁמִיד לַהֲרֹג וּלְאַבֵּד אֶת הָעֹלִים מִשְּׁבִי הַגּוֹלָה אֶל אֶרֶץ חֶמְדָּה. אָמְרוּ: לְכוּ וְנַכְחִידֵם מִגּוֹי, וְלֹא יִזָּכֵר שֵׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל עוֹד תהילים פג, ה . וְאַתָּה בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים עָמַדְתָּ לָּנוּ בְּעֵת צָרָתֵנוּ. רַבְתָּ אֶת רִיבֵנוּ, דַּנְתָּ אֶת דִּינֵנוּ, נָקַמְתָּ אֶת נִקְמָתֵנוּ. מָסַרְתָּ רַבִּים בְּיַד מְעַטִּים, וּרְשָׁעִים בְּיַד צַדִּיקִים. הֵמָּה כָּרְעוּ וְנָפָלוּ; וַאֲנַחְנוּ קַּמְנוּ וַנִּתְעוֹדָד תהילים כ, ט . לְךָ עָשִׂיתָ שֵׁם גָּדוֹל בָּעוֹלָם, וּלְעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל עָשִׂיתָ תְּשׁוּעָה גְדוֹלָה. וּבַחֹדֶשׁ הַשֵׁנִי בַּחֲמִשָּׁה לַחֹדֶשׁ, פָּרַקנוּ עוֹל גּוֹיִם מֵעַל צַוָּארֵנוּ. כְּשֵׁם שֶׁעָשִֹיתָ לָּנוּ תְּשׁוּעָה בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם , כָּךְ עֲשֵׂה עִמָּנוּ בָּ

Machon Shilo has outdone themselves again! Rav Bar-Hayim had an excellent article called "The Rebbe's Hallel" and they've also published a special version of Al-HaNissim for these two special days. The Talmud (Pesahim 117a) informs us that the Hallel prayer “was instituted by the Prophets to be said by the Jewish People on Festivals, and [in addition] upon having been saved from grave danger, they are to recite it in thanksgiving for their salvation.” This statement is quoted by several Halachic codifiers (e.g. Rid ad loc.; Rosh Pesahim 1:10). Salvation from national disaster is the yardstick; where this standard is met, we are obligated to express our gratitude to Hashem. Indeed, the Hatham Sopher (OH 161; 191& 208) opines that this obligation is mandated by the Torah. Like Hannukah, the Divine salvation experienced is in 1948 and 1967 is an immutable fact independent of subsequent developments. In addition, Al-HaNissim should be added to the Amidah and Birkat Ha

By Rav David Bar-Hayim The story is told of the Hassidic rebbe who, upon the establishment of the State of Israel, began to recite the thanksgiving prayer of Hallel on Yom Ha'assmauth, Israel's Independence Day. After a few years, his followers noticed that the rebbe no longer recited Hallel. When queried about this he explained: "When a child is born, everyone is happy. But if, as he grows up, he goes off the correct path and moves away from the Torah, the earlier jubilation becomes inappropriate". It is becoming increasingly apparent that certain circles of the National-Religious camp feel the same way. Exactly one year ago, in the weeks leading up to Independence Day - nearly a year after the unprecedented tragedy and debacle that was the "disengagement"--a lively debate was conducted in National-Religious newspapers and Internet forums regarding the correct attitude to Yom Ha'assmauth and the reciting of Hallel. Some of the participants expresse