Sukkah

One can deduce important decisions from the [present] custom of [reciting the] Hallel.1 [Thus], since he2 says Hallelujah3 and they respond Hallelujah,4 it may be inferred that it is a religious duty5 to answer Hallelujah.6 Since he7 says, Praise Him, ye servants of the Lord,8 and they [again] respond Hallelujah,9 it may be deduced that if a major recites [the Hallel] for one the latter10 responds Hallelujah.11 Since he7 says, Give thanks unto the Lord,12 and they respond, Give thanks unto the Lord, it may be inferred that it is a religious duty10 to make a response of the beginning of the sections.13 (So it was also stated; R. Hanan b. Raba ruled, It is a religious duty to make a response of the beginning of the sections.) Since he14 says, Save now, we beseech Thee, O Lord,15 and they16 answer, Save now, we beseech Thee, O Lord,17 it may be inferred that if a minor was reciting it for him, the latter18 answers after him what he says.19 Since he14 says, O Lord, we beseech Thee, send now prosperity,15 and they16 respond O, Lord we beseech Thee, send now prosperity, it may be inferred that if a man wishes to double [the verses] he may.20 Since he14 says, Blessed be he that cometh,21 and they22 answer, In the name of the Lord,21 it may be inferred that he who hearkens is as though he responded.20 They enquired of R. Hiyya b. Abba, If one listened but did not make the responses — what is the law?23 — He answered them, The Sages, the Scribes,24 the leaders of the people and the expounders laid down that if a man listened though he did not make the responses he has fulfilled his obligation. So it was also stated:25 R. Simeon b. Pazzi citing R. Joshua b. Levi who had it from Bar Kappara stated, Whence do we know that he who listens is as though he responds? From what is written, Even all the words of the book26 which the King of Judah27 hath read.28 For was it Josiah that read them? Was it not, in fact Shaphan who read them, as it is written, And Shaphan read it29 before the king.30 Consequently it may be inferred that he who listens is as though he responds. But perhaps Josiah read it after Shaphan had read it? — R. Aha b. Jacob replied, This cannot be thought of, since it is written, Because thy heart was tender, and thou didst humble thyself before the Lord, when thou heardest29 what I spake;31 "When thou heardest’, not ‘when thou didst read’. Raba ruled, One should not say Blessed be he that cometh’32 and then [pause and] say ‘in the name of the Lord,’32 but ‘Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the Lord’32 all together.33 (R. Safra said to him, to enable them to participate actively in the recital, a number of customs were introduced. In the days of Raba the congregation read it themselves, yet certain features of the former procedure were retained as reminders.] Rashi and Tosaf.] themselves, v. n. 7. after ‘Praise him, ye servants of the Lord’. This custom is not followed nowadays.] sections. have acted as Reader.