A Jewish prayer of praise consisting of Psalms 113-118, traditionally recited during important religious holidays and celebrations.
From Hebrew 'hallel' meaning 'praise' (from the root halal meaning 'to praise'). The term entered English through Yiddish and Jewish liturgical traditions and refers specifically to the traditional psalms sung together as a unit during religious festivals.
Hallel literally appears in the word 'hallelujah'—which breaks down as 'hallel' (praise) plus 'jah' (God)—so every time someone says hallelujah, they're actually saying 'praise God' in ancient Hebrew, making it one of the oldest prayer words still used today.
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