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

,םתמ וחלשד םושמ ?ימוי ירת ןנידבע אמעט יאמ ,אחריד אעיבקב ןניעדיד אתשחו
ילוקלקאל יתאו הרזג תוכלמה ורזגד ןינמז ,םכידיב םכיתובא גהנמב ורהזה
Now that the calendar is fixed what is the reason we have two
days of Yom Tov [in Chutz L’Aretz]? Because they sent from
there [from Eretz Yisrael to Bavel]: be zealous in maintaining the
custom of your forefathers lest a foreign government will pass
a law to forbid the calculations of the new moon and you may
miscalculate [the time of the festival].
Rashi explains the cryptic second phrase as meaning that if a government
were to arise that would forbid Torah study and the calculation of the
new month would be forgotten, the Jews may come to err by one day
in the calendar and inadvertantly eat chametz on Pesach 20 .
The Ritvah understands this takana as even though the calendar
has been established, in regions where two days of Yom Tov
were followed, the population must act as if they are still in
doubt as to the correct day. This is also the position of Tosfot
in Masechet Sukkah 21 . As proof, the Ritvah cites the fact that
there were times when the witnesses who saw the new moon
on day 29 would arrive late to the Sanhedrin or Beit Din and
the court would sanctify a full 30 day month. The discrepancy
caused by this type of scenario introduced an element of doubt
for those who knew the secret tradition of determining the
correct day for Rosh Chodesh which could cause them to
arrive at the incorrect date. Therefore, according to the Ritvah,
the takana acts to preserve the reality of doubt in places where
messengers did not reach.
Rambam differs in his understanding from the Ritvah and writes
that all communities, even distant, outlying ones in Chutz
L’Aretz ought to be keeping only one day of Yom Tov, as today
everyone relies on the fixed calendar. It is only through the
rabbinic takana in Baitzah that the minhag of the forefathers is
preserved.
20 Ibid. Note that Rashi singles out the הריבע of eating chametz due to its severe punishment if eaten
intentionally, תרכ.
אחריד אעיבקב ןניעדי אל ה”ד .גמ הכוס תופסות ןייע 21
13
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