DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 424 KB)
Rosh Hashanah – Women’s Recitation of Musaf; Reading Hallel as Part of Tehillim

Generally speaking, women are exempt from the Musaf prayer recited on Shabbat, Rosh Hodesh and festivals, and they should not recite this prayer even if they wish to. On Rosh Hashanah, however, the Musaf prayer includes numerous verses and passages relating to the theme of divine mercy and our prayers for a good year, and thus women may recite Musaf on Rosh Hashanah. In fact, according to some views, women are obligated to recite Musaf on Rosh Hashanah, as well as on Yom Kippur. It goes without saying that women may recite the Ne’ila prayer on Yom Kippur.

Even though Hallel is normally recited on Yom Tob, we do not recite Hallel on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur. As these occasions are days of judgment when the books of life and death are opened before God, it is inappropriate to conduct the joyous reading of Hallel. And although we feel confident on Rosh Hashanah that we will be inscribed for a good year, we must nevertheless approach our judgment with fear and dread, emotions which are incompatible with the singing of Hallel.

However, if a person recites Tehillim on Rosh Hashanah, and over the course of his reading he reaches the chapters of Hallel, he may recite these chapters. Since he recites these chapters as part of his normal reading of Tehillim, and not in the context of the festive Hallel recitation, this is permissible.

Summary: Women may recite Musaf on Rosh Hashanah, and, according to some opinions, they are required to recite Musaf on Rosh Hashanah. Hallel is not recited on Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur, though one who recites Tehillim may recite the chapters of Hallel as part of his Tehillim reading.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Hanukah – Lighting the Candles With Genuine Joy; Lighting With a Wax Candle
Hanukah – Spinning the Dreidel; Giving Gifts to Children and Teachers
The Custom Among Some Syrian Jews to Light an Extra Candle on Hanukah
Hanukah Candles – Arranging the Candles in a Straight Line; the Proper Place for Lighting
Chanukah- Should One Skip Al HaNissim To Catch Up for Nakdishach
Proper Handling of Leftover Oil and Wicks from the Hanukah Lights
Chanukah- Fasting, Eulogies and Mourning on Chanukah
Hanukah – If the Wrong Section From the Torah Was Read on Hanukah
If One Travels on Hanukah to a Place Without a Jewish Community
Hanukah – Must One Light the Candles Again if They are Extinguished After Lighting?
Hanukah – The Use of Floating Wicks
Hanukah – Reciting Hallel in a House of Mourning; Reciting “Mizmor Shir Hanukat Ha’bayit”
Hanukah – Does One Recite Shehehiyanu the First Time He Lights if He Did Not Light on the First Night?
Hanukah – The Halachot of Candle Lighting for Travelers
Hanukah – Is it Preferable to Use New Wicks Each Night, or to Reuse the Wicks From the Previous Night?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found