Y om T o v Sheni Yom Tov Sheni - Chidushei Torah@NDS

Yom Tov Sheni
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It is reasonable to believe that the majority of Jewish communities
in the Diaspora would have known the correct date for Shavuot
within this period, i.e. certainly the messengers would have reached
them within 49 or 50 days, even if they did not already arrive in 10.
In addition, the Sages relied on the fixed calendar for the counting of
the Omer so that people would not get confused with the correct
counting 36 . However, the Sages enacted a second day of Shavuot in
order to not differentiate it from the other holidays 37 .
Why is there only One Day of Yom Kippur?
The Sages made another exception to the minhag of Yom Tov Sheni in
the case of Yom Kippur even though it occurs on the 10 th of Tishrei,
as opposed to the 15 th for Sukkot or Pesach. In addition, there is a
punishment of karet (spiritual excision), for one who eats on this
day. Therefore, one would assume they would have to be more
meticulous and observe two days of Yom Kippur. The Ritvah gives
two answers why the Sages were lenient: Firstly, from the time of
Ezra and onwards, we do not find a case where Elul was intercalated
coupled with the fact that it would be a Rabbinic enactment which
the majority of people would be unable to maintain as they would
have to fast for two days in a row. Secondly, nowadays, after the
destruction of the Temple, when we have a fixed calendar and the
second day is only because of minhag, we are not strict to fast for
two straight days 38 .
Who is Obligated in the Mitzvah of Yom Tov Sheni?
As explained earlier, nowadays, a permanent resident of the Land of
Israel keeps one day for each holiday (with the exception of Rosh
Hashanah) as prescribed by the Torah, whereas those living in the
Diaspora keep a second day of the festival.
There are different opinions regarding the status of a temporary
resident or visitor as to whether they are obligated to keep one or
.חי הנשה שאר א”בטירה ישודיח 36
38 ’ה ףיעס ד”כרת ’ס ח”וא ע”ושב ןייע The Rema writes that there are individuals who are stringent and
observe two days of Yom Kippur, but one should not follow this stringency because of the danger
to one’s health from two days of fasting.
םש 37