Community Magazine October 2014

The Top 10 Questions & Answers on custom and laws of Dedicated in loving memory of HachamNissim benMazal a''h Yom Tov Sheni – 1 WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ISRAEL AND THE DIASPORA REGARDING THE SECOND DAY OF YOM TOV? In Israel, the second day of Pesach and Sukkot is the first day of Hol Hamoed, whereas outside of Israel, it is observed as another day of Yom Tov, during which melachah (forbidden activity) is prohibited just as on the first day, and theYomTov prayers are recited and a special Torah portion is read. Just as on the first day, one must recite kiddush and conduct a festive Yom Tov meal with bread. In Israel, this second day is the same as the rest of Hol Hamoed, when certain activities are permissible, and weekday prayers are recited followed by Hallel and Torah reading (on Pesach half Hallel ). One does not have to recite kiddush on this day in Israel, just as on the other days of Hol Hamoed. Shavuot is observed for just one day in Israel, whereas in the Diaspora it is observed for two consecutive days. 2 IF A Kohen WHO IS VISITING FROM ISRAEL IS IN THE SYNAGOGUE DURING musaf ON THE LAST DAY PESACH, SHOULD HE PARTICIPATE IN birKaT Kohanim ? If there are kohanim present who are observing Yom Tov that day (meaning, they are not visiting from Israel), then the visitor should join them and recite birkat kohanim , though without the introductory blessing according to Hacham Ben Sion ( Or Letziyon , 3:23:2). Hacham Ovadia Yosef says one who does make a bracha has what to rely on. If he is the only kohen present, he should recite birkat kohanim with the introductory blessing. 3 DO THESE LAWS APPLY IF AN ISRAELI RESIDENT IS VISITING A TOWN IN THE DIASPORA WHERE NO JEWS LIVE? If there are absolutely no Jews at all in that city or in the neighboring areas who will arrive in that city on Yom Tov Sheni, then the visitor may observe only one day of Yom Tov, and may perform on the second day all activities that are permitted on Hol Hamoed. If it is the second day of Shavuot, then he may go to work like on a regular weekday, put on tefillin and pray a weekday prayer ( Or Letziyon , 3:23:3). The same would apply for the eighth day of Pesach and Simchat Torah. 4 IF SOMEONE FROM ISRAEL IS VISITING IN AMERICA FOR EITHER PESACH OR SUKKOT, AND PLANS ON RETURNING TO ISRAEL AFTER THE HOLIDAY, HOW SHOULD HE CONDUCT HIMSELF ON YOM TOV SHENI? The visitor must refrain from all activity prohibited on Yom Tov, even in private, but he prays the weekday Hol Hamoed prayer (including, of course, ya’aleh veyavo , Hallel and Musaf ). Since he prays a weekday prayer, he does not have to pray with a minyan (which is praying aYomTov prayer). Nevertheless, it would be appropriate for him to go to the synagogue after praying privately to hear kaddish and kedushah , and the reading of Parashat Vezot Haberachah on Simhat Torah ( Or Letziyon , Volume 3: Chapter 23: Question 1). If 10 men from Israel are visiting the same town in America, they should not make a minyan for the Hol Hamoed prayer on Yom Tov Sheni, as this would be an affront to the Yom Tov being observed by the local community. Hacham Ben Sion explains that on the second night of Pesach, a visitor from Israel should not participate in the seder , and should instead privately recite havdalah . However, Hacham Ovadia Yosef ruled that it is proper for the visitor to participate in the seder for the reading of Maggid and the discussion about the Exodus. He must ensure not to recite any of the berachot at the seder (such as kiddush , the blessing over Hallel , and the special blessings over the matzah and marror ). Instead, he should answer “ amen ” upon hearing these berachot recited by Diaspora residents. After the seventh day of Pesach, a visitor from Israel should recite havdalah , and the next day he recites the normal weekday prayers with tefillin . 5 DOES AN AMERICAN VISITING ISRAEL FOR SUKKOT EAT IN A SUKKAH ON SHEMINI ATZERET, AS IS DONE IN THE DIASPORA? A person in this situation should eat in the sukkah, regardless of whether he is eating in his own sukkah or if he is being hosted by Israeli residents who eat in the home on Shemini Atzeret. However, if this poses great difficulty for the host or for the guest when eating by others, then the guest may eat in the home. ( Or Letziyon 3:23:11) 48 Community magazine