תהלים, פרק קל״ו, פסוק א׳

A grand call rings out to awaken the human heart to gratitude, urging people to recognize the wonders of existence and the One who sustains it all [המאירי]. The song is structured like a choral performance, where a lead singer initiates the call and the congregation responds in a steady, rhythmic chorus [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. In rabbinic tradition, this song is known as the Great Hallel because it captures the majestic image of God sitting at the pinnacle of the universe, providing nourishment to every living creature [תורה תמימה].

The call to give thanks is directed specifically toward the Israelites [אבן עזרא], urging them to acknowledge the blessings they have received [מלבי״ם]. The core reason for this gratitude is that God is the ultimate source of all creation, and existence itself is inherently good [המאירי]. Furthermore, the title of "good" truly belongs only to God. While a human king might benefit his citizens out of self-interest and a dependence on his subjects, God grants goodness with absolute, selfless kindness, having no personal needs whatsoever [אלשיך]. On a spiritual level, this goodness provides people with the strength and assistance required to study Torah and fulfill Commandments in this world, tasks they could never accomplish without His help [חומת אנך].

The rhythmic response affirming that His kindness is eternal serves as a repeating chorus that accompanies each of the twenty-six themes explored throughout the song, functioning to amplify the praise [רד״ק]. This reflects the reality that God's kindness is constant and uninterrupted [רד״ק]. Unlike the temporary and fleeting favors of human beings, His kindness endures forever [מצודת דוד].

This eternal kindness is the very force that sustains and continues existence at every single moment [המאירי]. It operates endlessly, whether God is guiding the world through the ordinary laws of nature or through extraordinary miracles [מלבי״ם]. His divine abundance flows continually, unaffected by changing times or the different ways He manages the world [אלשיך]. Ultimately, this boundless kindness carries over into the World to Come. There, God grants a person complete reward for fulfilling the Commandments, treating their actions as if they had achieved them entirely by their own power [חומת אנך].