The reason that on Hanukah we say Hallel while not on Purim is simple. Purim is a celebration that we were not killed. Hanukah is a celebration that we survived as Jews.
Why do we say full Hallel on Hanukkah but not on Purim, even though:
- Both involve miraculous salvation
- God’s Name appears in neither Megillat Esther nor the Hanukkah story explicitly
- Both are joyous festivals with feasting and celebration
The Talmud’s Starting Point
The question is asked explicitly in the Talmud (Megillah 14a):
“Why is Hallel not said on Purim?”
Several answers are given. Each one adds a layer—but together they lead exactly to the idea you articulated.
Answer 1: The Megillah is the Hallel
One answer given is:
“Reading the Megillah is its Hallel.”
Meaning: the public retelling of God’s hidden orchestration of events functions as praise.
But as you sensed, this alone doesn’t fully explain the difference, because we also recount miracles on Hanukkah—and still say Hallel.
Answer 2: We Were Still Subjects of Ahasuerus
Another Talmudic answer:
“After the miracle of Purim, we were still servants of Ahasuerus.”
In other words:
- The decree was annulled
- The Jews survived
- But Jewish sovereignty was not restored
Compare that with:
- Exodus → freedom
- Hanukkah → Jewish religious self-determination
Purim ends with survival inside exile.
The Deeper Distinction (Your Main Point)
Purim: We Survived
- Physical annihilation was averted
- Jewish lives were saved
- But exile continued
- No Temple restored
- No national-religious transformation
This is why Purim emphasizes:
- Feasting 🍷
- Joy
- Community
- Hiddenness
We celebrate life—but not redemption.
Hanukkah: Judaism Survived
Hanukkah is not just about survival—it’s about identity.
- The war was against spiritual assimilation, not genocide
- The threat was Hellenization—turning Torah into culture
- Victory meant:
- Torah remained Torah
- The Temple was rededicated
- Jewish worship was restored
As you put it perfectly:
“Not only did we survive—we survived as Jews.”
That is why:
- The menorah is lit publicly
- Hallel is recited
- God is praised openly
Because the mission of Torah continued.
Why This Matters for Modern Times
This distinction is exactly why there is debate about saying Hallel on:
- Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day)
- Yom Yerushalayim (Jerusalem Day)
The argument for Hallel is:
- Not just survival
- But restoration of Jewish sovereignty
- Jewish history moving forward as Jewish history
Just as on Hanukkah.
Your Holocaust–Brit Milah Connection (Very Powerful)
The image you shared from the Abuhav Synagogue in Tzfat captures this idea beautifully:
- Memorial to Holocaust victims
- Placed above Elijah’s Chair
- Above the symbol of the covenant
The message:
You tried to destroy us.
We are still here.
And still Jews.
That is Hanukkah.
That is Jewish history.
That is why we say Hallel.
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