We are all aware that on the eight days of Chanukah we recite full Hallel with a Beracha. The question is asked, are ladies obligated in this Mitzvah of reciting Hallel, and if they are, do they say it with a Beracha?
Well, there is a great dilemma on this Halacha, because Rambam (Rav Moshe ben Maimon 1135-1204) writes clearly that ladies are not obligated in the Hallel of Chanukah. The dilemma is why not? Ladies are obligated in the lighting of the candles of Chanukah, as the Gemara says that they were also involved in the miracle. So if they are obligated in the lighting so why wouldn’t they be obligated in the recitation of the Hallel? What’s the difference?
The S’de Chemed says that we know ladies are obligated to pray once a day from the Torah. Rambam however says a lady fulfills her obligation if she just says a personal prayer without actually reading the official Amidah. She can say a prayer of gratitude to Bore Olam, and state a simple request of her needs to Bore Olam. Of course our ladies pray the official Amidah, but from the Torah they fulfill the obligation by just stating a personal request. So too, says the S’de Chemed when it comes to Hallel. If the Ladies would read a mizmor (song) of Tehilim, or if they would say a praise to Bore Olam in just one line, so according to Ramban they would have already fulfilled their obligation. And therefore, it’s different from candles of Chanukah. By the candles the only way to fulfill is by lighting. But by Hallel, once the ladies say a Beracha already, that’s considered as if they praised Bore Olam on that day. And therefore, for the ladies, we are lenient and they are not obligated to say the Hallel.
Some Rabbis want to say that because the Hallel was established to commemorate the war effort, and since ladies are not involved in war effort, so therefore they are exempt from saying the Hallel.
Halacha Lema’ase (the bottom line), and Chacham Ovadia rules like this- Ladies can recite the Hallel but without the Beracha. (Yechave Da’at, Helek 1:78.)
Last but no least the Chatam Sofer (Rav Moshe Sofer Schreiber 1763-1840) writes that ladies in general do not even light the candles of Chanukah. They really rely on their husbands. He says that originally the Takana (decree) for lighting candles of Chanukah was not set for the ladies. The custom is that the men do the lighting. Why? He says because originally they used to light outside, and it wouldn’t be modest for a lady to go outside and light the Menorah in front of the public domain. So therefore, the custom is that the husband does the lighting. Even by the Asheknazim where each one lights their own Menorah, the custom is that the wife does not light. (See Orach Hayim, siman 675: Mishna Berura Seif 9.)
So again, while ladies are required in the lighting, they fulfill their obligation through their husband’s lighting. They are not obligated in the Hallel, but can say it if they want but without a Beracha.
