DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

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

      
(File size: 1.2 MB)
Hanukah: The Halachot of "Al Hanisim" 2

If one forgot to inset "Al Hanisim" in the Amidah, he does not have to repeat the Amidah. However, if he remembers before the completion of the Amidah, he should insert it after "Yeh'Yu L'Rason," before "Oseh Shalom." This applies even if he remembered after saying "Baruch Atah Hashem," before concluding "Ha'tov Shimcha." He should not quickly conclude "Lamdeni Hukeha," but should finish the Beracha and insert "Al Hanisim" before Oseh Shalom.

There is a disagreement as to how to formulate the "Al Hanisim" at that point. Everyone agrees that if he forgot "Al Hanisim" in the Birkat Hamazon, he does not repeat Birkat Hamazon and should insert it as a "HaRahaman" prayer in the "HaRahaman section, as brought by the Rema in Siman 682. The Mishna Berura there teaches that the same is true in the Amidah-it should be inserted in the form of a supplication. However, the Ben Ish Hai in Hilchot Purim rules that it should be recited in its original form-"Al Hanisim…"

If one began a meal at the end of the last day of Hanukah and concluded it after nightfall, according to Maran, he should say "Al Hanisim." It is no different than Birkat Hamazon on Mosa'eh Shabbat, Mosa'eh Yom Tob or Mosa'eh Rosh Hodesh, in which the Birkat Hamazon is defined by the beginning of the meal. Although the Ben Ish Hai understood that this is not the case on Hanukah and Purim, The Minhag of Yerushalayim, Hacham Atiya, Hacham Ovadia and Hacham Bension all agree that one should say "Al Hanisim" after nightfall, preferably if he ate a Kezayit before sunset.

In Birkat Hamazon, the word "Migdol" supplants "Magdil" on a day on which there is Musaf. Although Hanukah and Purim do not have Musaf, the Ben Ish Hai rules that on Purim "Migdol" is said, because there is a special "He'arah" (spiritual illumination) on that day. Nevertheless, that would only apply to Purim, whereas on Hanukah the "He'arah" is only during the candle lighting, and therefore "Magdil" is said.

The full Hallel is recited all eight days. The Pele Yoes and others emphasize that since the Hallel was one of the primary institutions of Hanukah it should be recited slowly with melody and intent. Even on Pesah, the full Hallel is not recited all eight days. This indicates the magnitude of the Misva of Hallel on Hanukah. The Rambam indicates that women are not obligated to say the Hallel, and although they can recite it, they may not say a Beracha.

SUMMARY
If one remembered to say "Al Hanisim" after the proper place: In Birkat Hamazon, he should insert it as a "HaRahaman" in the "HaRahaman" section, and in the Amidah, he should insert it before "Oseh Shalom" in its original form.

If one started a meal at the end of Hanukah, he should recite "Al Hanisim," in the Birkat Hamazon, even if he concluded after nightfall.

In Birkat Hamazon, "Magdil" is said, not "Migdol."

Women who chose to say Hallel do not recite the Beracha.


 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Recitation of “Emet Ve’yasib” After the Morning Shema
Answering “Amen” to a Beracha After Completing “Hashkibenu” at Arbit
Does Minha Precede Musaf if One Did Not Recite Musaf Until the Afternoon?
Reciting the Verse “Yiheyu Le’rason” After the Amida
Laws of Kaddish
Halachot Relevant to Reciting the Verse “Hashem Melech”
Answering to Kadish, Barechu, Kedusha or Berachot During Baruch She’amar
May One Answer “Amen” During Pesukeh De’zimra?
If One is Praying the Amida When the Hazan Reaches Nakdishach
If One Mistakenly Recited Al Ha’mihya Instead of Birkat Ha’mazon
The Latest Time to Recite the Morning Amida, Baruch She’amar and Yishtabah
May a Kohen Interrupt Pesukeh De’zimra or Shema to Participate in Birkat Kohanim?
Upon Arriving Late To Minyan of Arbit
One Who Did Not Recite Minha the Day Before We Begin Reciting “Barech Alenu”
If One Mistakenly Recited “Barechenu” Instead of “Barech Alenu” on the Night of December 4th
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found