Some of my FB friends last Thursday shared why second day Yomtov in the Diaspora is ridiculous these days. I cant argue with the strict logic, but Im pretty attached to two days Yontif. Of course its easy for me, mostly unemployed and always worked either for the Jewish community or in a situation where it was expected I would take off for the holidays, to say. Also my spouse often works the second day. Why? First of all, its what Im used to. I grew up with it, always took off from public school (The rule at home was, when we got older, we had a choice, but if we took off we had to go to shul). Also it works in many ways. Im glad we have two seders. For some people it means you can spend time with both sides of the family. For us we have different friends and a more traditional seder the first night and more creative the second night. Also, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah have such different moods, prayer for rain and yizkor vs. extravagant joy and celebration, that mixing them together is confusing at best. Now for Shavuot. One might say it makes the best argument for one day, but I think I could not properly celebrate in one day. Not talking about this year when we spent two and a half wonderful and intense days at Isabella Freedman. I really like the tradition of an all night Tikkun, Ive been frustrated when we didnt have one available, and so glad there is now a good one in Park Slope, complete with dovening at dawn. BUT no one wants to have a proper Yontif dinner on the first night, especially if you observe the tradition not to start the holiday until at least sundown because you are supposed to count 49 complete days. People want to get to the tikkun, which often starts earlier than it should, and even I want to get there. I also like to make the effort to make blintzehs from scratch, something I dont do the rest of the year (Though I have intentions of doing it later this summer to make up for not doing it on Shavuot this year). With two days, I can have a fairly quick Yontif diner and go to TIkkun, get home after dovening by 8 am and sleep for 4 or 5 hours, then get up and complete the blintzehs (which Ive partly made in advance) and have people over for dinner. Those who want can go to work the second day, but its a nice day for a picnic lunch, not possible the first day if you stay up all night. So thats my take on it. Has nothing to do with the historical argument over when the new moon occurs.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 19:10:16 +0000
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