Hallel is the collection of Psalms that we add to our morning services on Rosh Chodesh, the three major festivals and Chanuka. For the most part, those psalms (113-118) praise Adonai our God and plead for salvation, e.g., “Ana adonai hoshia an / Please God, save us!”

Toward the end of Psalm 118 is a curious line; it begins: “eil adonai vayya’er lanu / Adonai is our God Who illuminates [our lives; ed. emendation];” straightforward enough and in keeping with the spirit of the verses around it.

Then comes the latter part of the verse: “isru chag baavotim ad karnot hamizbeiach.” The translation, and thence the understanding, of these words varies widely. The more “traditional” (i.e., orthodox, or Orthodox) translation is along the lines of “bind the festival sacrifice to the horns of the altar with myrtle” or “bring the festival procession up to the corners of the altar” (of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem).

Modern scholarship sees that phrase differently: in the course of transcription, a stage direction — “festively decorate the corners of the altar with myrtle” — became incorporated into the text of the Psalm. Psalms were performed by Levitical chorus and musicians in the precincts of the Temple, and it is likely that “stage directions” were written into manuscripts used in Temple. Apparently, at some point in the transmission/transcription of this psalm, a scribe moved the directions from the margin into the text.

Whichever translation strikes you as more apropos, neither suits the textual flow of the psalm. Be that as it may, we accept the “errant” text and move on.

Today, Thursday, is the day after the end of the High Holy and Other Fall Festival Days. The day following any of the pilgrimage festivals (Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot) is called “Isru chag,” because one early explanation ties (!) the binding at the altar to our yearning to hold on to the joy and spirituality of the festival just a little longer. (It’s akin to the aromatic spices we us at havdala to sweeten the parting from Shabbat.)

On an isru chag we omit a few prayers with themes of sorrow or remorse, and, according to some rabbinic opinions, we enhance our typical daily fare with slightly nicer foods and drink. In effect, we’re holding on to the festival just…a…little…longer.

So the next time you have guests who are taking their time saying goodbye and not leaving, be generous: they want to hold on to the pleasure of your company and hosting just…a…little…longer. It can be hard to say “farewell.”

Shabbat shalom ! שבת שלום