EIGHTH DAY PESACH READING

Rabbi Dr. Aharon Adler

The Truth About Yom Tov Sheini

he Biblical commandment to observance today conforms to the cat- for them. He graciously agreed, on the organize the halachic calendar, egory of minhag. Broadly stated, if an condition that I come to this Seder via the judicial act of lunar sanc- individual is a temporary resident in, or with my guitar and play live music. Ttification, caused much difficulty for visitor to, a second location with plans Rav Amital refused to respond Amen the burgeoning Jewish communities of to return to the original location, he/she to the two boys’ many berachot at this Babylon during the Second Temple era. must observe the minhag of the origi- seder. Instead, he mumbled: od beracha The over two-week delay in receiving nal location. However, if one relocates levatala – another blessing in vain! this critical information from the Holy permanently to the second location, the Complicating matters, Rav Shmuel Land regarding precisely which day was original location’s minhag is no longer Salant (19th century Chief Rabbi of sanctified as Rosh Chodesh meant that binding upon him, and he assumes the Jerusalem) agreed, in principle, with the the Diaspora communities were unin- new location’s minhag immediately. Ritba’s position. However, in deference formed as to when the festivals would Hence, one may conclude that a tour- to Rav Yosef Karo, he recommended fall out. This triggered the rabbinic ist in Israel today should observe the that on Yom Tov Sheini in Eretz Yisrael, institution to observe “Yom Tov Sheini” full Yom Tov Sheini. Conversely, an one should abstain from doing Yom – a second day of each festival – due to Israeli abroad could dispense with Yom the halachic doubt generated by the lack Tov Sheini (except for the concern of Tov-restricted activity while maintain- of adequate communication. In Talmu- marit ayin, which would restrict such ing the Chol HaMoed status of the day, dic times, when there were no longer a person from publicly performing Yom an opinion adopted by Rav Soloveitchik possibilities of a judicial act of lunar Tov-restricted activity). as well. sanctification, the 19-year calendar was On the flipside, the Ritba (Chidushim The reconstitution of the on launched into its historic orbit. Today, 18a) contends that the eve of Messianic times will usher in there is no longer a safek regarding Yom Tov Sheini is defined in terms of an era when rabbinic authority will be the precise day of Rosh Chodesh. One the place. Whoever is in Eretz Yisrael restored, allowing for the repeal of Yom simply checks the annual calendar, and (permanently or temporarily) observes Tov Sheini. Modern telecommunication the information is readily available to one day, while everyone in the Dias- will guarantee worldwide knowledge of all. The (Beitza 4b) states that pora would observe two days of Yom the Rosh Chodesh declarations ema- we nevertheless continue to observe it Tov. This opinion was adopted by the nating from Eretz Yisrael, and hence, in the Diaspora as a minhag. 17th century Chacham Tzvi, who goes no longer will there be a need for Yom a step further and declares that anyone Tov Sheini at all. May we be blessed, Overseas travel in the modern era observing Yom Tov Sheini in Eretz Yis- speedily in our days, to witness this has given rise to an age-old question rael is in direct violation of the Biblical great transformation. Amen! regarding the status of Diaspora Jews commandment “not to add on to the temporarily residing in Israel vis-à-vis Torah” (bal tosif)! their obligations to observe – or not to On the practical side, tourists in Israel observe – Yom Tov Sheini as practiced who are followers of the opinions of the abroad. A parallel situation – entirely Berurah and Rav Moshe Fein- reversed – deals with Israelis resid- stein conduct themselves according to ing temporarily abroad. Should they Rav Yosef Karo’s position, and observe observe the festivals in “Eretz Yisrael the full-blown Yom Tov Sheini. Those mode” without Yom Tov Sheini, or following the opinions of Rav Yosef D. should they conform to the local Dias- Soloveitchik and many leading Israeli pora practice? decisors have adopted the position of Great confusion over this issue exists the Chacham Tzvi, and observe the due to the two known polar-opposite Yom Tov in accordance with Eretz Yis- Rabbi Dr. Aharon Adler is the Rabbi of the opinions on the subject. rael practice. Ohel Nechama Community Synagogue in Jerusalem. Rambam (Hilchot Yom Tov 6:14) and In 1973, as a foreign student at Yeshivat later, Rabbi Yosef Karo (Shulchan Aruch Har Etzion, two of my friends had asked A member of the Mizrachi Speakers Bureau OH 496:3), contend that Yom Tov Sheini for Rav Amital to host a second Seder mizrachi.org/speakers

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