Hallel - Half Recited

QUESTION: On Chanukah, Hallel is said in its entirety, in contrast to Rosh Chodesh when we recite only “half Hallel.” If someone accidentally recited the half Hallel on Chanukah, must Hallel be repeated in full? If so, should a new beracha be said?

ANSWER: The Mishnah Berurah (488:2-3) writes that on days when we recite the full Hallel, if even one word of Hallel was omitted, and certainly an entire paragraph, Hallel must be repeated. According to the Mishnah Berurah since one did not fulfill the obligation, a new beracha must be said as well. 

However, the Shevet Halevi (7:62) disagrees with the Mishnah Berurah and writes that a beracha is not said on the subsequent repetition of the full Hallel. He explains that reciting half Hallel is also an expression of praise, and this is the reason that a beracha is said on Rosh Chodesh for half Hallel. If one recited half Hallel on Chanukah or Yom Tov, although the obligation to recite full Hallel was not fulfilled and therefore Hallel must be repeated, it still constitutes a form of Hallel and the beracha that was said was not a beracha levatala (recited in vain). Therefore, according to the Shevet Halevi, a new beracha should not be said on the subsequent repetition.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.