Each morning, we begin the prayer service with the Pesukei D’Zimrah section, a selection of praises from Tehillim that we recite in order to put us in the proper frame of mind for prayer. On Shabbos, we recite additional chapters of Tehillim as part of the Pesukei D’Zimrah service, along with those that we recite on weekdays. One of the Chapters, Chapter 136, is referred to by our Sages as the Hallel HaGadol — “the great Hallel.” It mentions many different miracles that Hashem per formed, and after each it says, ki l’olam chasdo — “for His kind ness endures forever.”

Interestingly, there is also another occasion when we recite this chapter — on Pesach, at the Seder. Our Sages saw fit to add this chapter to our Pesach Seder as well as to our weekly Shabbos prayer service, and we need to understand why. We also need to understand why this chapter is called Hallel HaGadol. It is considerably shorter than the Hallel we recite on Rosh Chodesh and the festivals. Why is it called the “great Hallel”?

This second question was asked already by the Gemara (Pesachim 118a). Rabbi Yochanan, as the Gemara cites, explains that the reason for the name is found in one of the final verses of the chapter, which says, nosein lechem l’chol basar ki l’olam chasdo — “He gives food to every creature, for His kindness endures forever.” As Rabbi Yochanan observes, Hashem is the Supreme Being Who governs the entire earth, and yet He personally cares for each and every creature in the world, from the largest beasts to the smallest insects. This is the greatest miracle of all — that each and every day, G-d provides the needs of all creatures on earth. As we say in blessing of Borei Nefashos, Hashem created people and animals with needs, and He fulfills those needs on an ongoing basis, each and every day. After listing the great miracles that Hashem performed, we exclaim, nosein lechem l’chol basar — that He sustains all living creatures, which is the greatest miracle of all.

G-d sustains His creatures in the most wondrous ways. Some creatures have a natural instinct to provide other creatures’ needs and meet their own needs through what is called a “symbiotic relationship,” whereby they cooperate with one another. For example, there is a certain large fish that preys on smaller fish, but occasionally its food gets wedged in its teeth, which makes it impossible for it to eat again. Hashem arranged that another fish has the instinct to come and feed off that food caught in this large fish’s teeth, thereby sustaining itself while enabling the other creature to continue living. This is a beautiful example of the verse, nosein lechem l’chol basar ki l’olam chasdo. In Hashem’s infinite kindness, He sustains all of creation in the most extraordinary ways.

The Gemara adds that the phrase ki l’olam chasdo appears 26 times in this chapter, corresponding to the 26 generations that lived from the time of creation until the Torah was given at Sinai. (There were ten generations from Adam until Noach, another ten until Avraham, and then six generations from Avraham to Moshe Rabbeinu.) Throughout those 26 generations, the Gemara teaches, the world did not deserve to be sustained. As the Mishnah (Avos 3:21) famously states, im ein Torah ein kemach — we cannot obtain our material needs without Torah. And so until the Torah was given, the world did not deserve sustenance. Nevertheless, G-d continued providing all creatures with their needs, because of His infinite kindness. (The Maharal adds that 26 is also the numerical value of the Divine Name of Hashem, which is the Name that signifies G-d’s gracious sustaining of the world.)

The rabbis thus explain that the word gadol refers to kindness, because true greatness is bestowing kindness upon others. And so this chapter is called Hallel HaGadol, because it speaks of G-d’s infinite kindness in feeding all His creatures.

The Pesikta Rabbasi (33) infers from this chapter of Tehillim that the miracle of every piece of bread we eat is as miraculous as the Exodus and the splitting of the sea. In the same chapter that gives praise to Hashem for these miracles, we give praise also for nosein lechem, that we have bread to eat. We take this daily miracle for granted, but in truth, this is the greatest miracle. The Pesikta says: mah kochah shel prusah, that a simple piece of bread is, in truth, an extraordinary miracle.

When Yaakov Avinu blesses his grandsons, Menashe and Ephraim, he makes reference to the angel that rescued him from all his situations of danger (Bereishis 48:16), and to Hashem Who sustained him like a shepherd caring for his flocks. The Pesikta points out that while it is an angel that saves us from harm, Hashem Himself sustains us and provides us with our material needs. It is specifically in the area of parnassah, our sustenance, that we feel a special connection to Hashem. The true chesed of Hashem is felt primarily through His graciously providing us with food each day: nosein lechem l’chol basar.

With this in mind, we can understand the special relevance of this chapter of Tehillim to Shabbos. Shabbos is the day when we are reminded of this concept, that Hashem graciously feeds and sustains the world.

Rav Moshe Wolfson tells a story he heard from a person who, like many Jews who lived in the United States in the earlier part of the 20th century, faced a very difficult test with regard to Shabbos observance. It was common for Jewish workers to be told on Friday afternoon that they would be fired if they did not come to work on Saturday. Many Jews could not withstand the pressure and worked on Shabbos, while others heroically remained steadfast to Torah and continued observing Shabbos despite the financial hardship it entailed. The man who told Rav Wolfson this story was one such hero. Every time he found a new job, he would be fired on Friday afternoon after informing the employer that he would not be coming to work on Shabbos. This went on for a long time, until the family’s savings were depleted, and the family literally could not afford food.

That Friday morning, when this man got up, he felt he could not do this anymore. The deprivation was simply too much to bear. He decided that he would tell his boss that he would return to work on Saturday. But as he walked to work, he saw a perfectly clean, fresh loaf of bread sitting on a garbage can. He took it to bring to his family, as this was enough to sustain them for a day. He then thought to himself, “Just as Hashem can send me this loaf of bread, he can send me my livelihood every day.” And he did not work the next day, Shabbos.

This story, Rav Wolfson said, brings new meaning to the words of the Pesikta (ibid.): mah kochah shel prusah. A simple loaf of bread can have extraordinary power.

On Pesach, we recite Hallel HaGadol because it speaks of the miracles of the Exodus. On Shabbos, we recite this chapter because it speaks of the great miracle of parnassah, of how Hashem provides our needs and the needs of all people and animals, in the most wondrous and remarkable ways. Nosein lechem l’chol basar — this is the greatest miracle of all.

The Chida (Rav Chaim Yosef David Azulai) comments that the phrase l’chol basar — “to all flesh,” indicates that Hashem provides food for all people, both the righteous and the wicked. Even on the day Bnei Yisrael worshiped the golden calf at the foot of Mount Sinai, Hashem provided them with manna from heaven. Hashem is kind and gracious to all people. Even when we do not deserve our sustenance, He continues to provide it, patiently awaiting our repentance. On Shabbos, we use two loaves of bread to commemorate the double portion of manna that fell on Friday so there would be food for Shabbos. This serves to remind us that Hashem always sustains us under all conditions and circumstances, ki l’olam chasdo — because His kindness is infinite and boundless.

Hopefully, this insight into the Hallel HaGadol will enhance not only our Shabbos prayers, but our entire Shabbos experience. As we sit down to the Shabbos table, and we see the wide array of delicacies that we are able to enjoy, we should think to ourselves and discuss with our families, nosein lechem l’chol basar ki l’olam chasdo — Hashem’s kindness is infinite and everlasting, and He continues to mercifully and lovingly sustain us, day in and day out, week after week, month after month, throughout our lives. Reflecting on Hashem’s kindness will infuse us with great joy and faith that will accompany us throughout Shabbos and throughout the coming week, and make our lives happier, calmer, and free of worry and anxiety.

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Reprinted from Embrace Shabbos by Rabbi David Sutton with permission from ArtScroll Mesorah.