Halachic Guidelines for a ‘Ben Eretz Yisrael’ Abroad for Yom Tov
Question
Hi, I made Aliyah to Israel a few years ago and bought a flat in Israel, so I have been keeping one day of Yom Tov. I am planning a trip to the USA this coming Pesach. Can you please advise me on the halachot regarding being in chutz la'aretz over Pesach?
Answer
Thank you for your question.
Yes, you still have to keep one day Yom Tov. However, since you are in a place that people around you are keeping two days Yom Tov you are not permitted to do any melachot on the second day of Yom Tov (although you may wash yourself using hot water and you may move a muktzeh object that is Kli shemelachto le’isuur). The source of this halacha is based on the Gemarah Pesachim page 52 brought in the Mishnah Berurah le’halacha in OC Siman 496 seif Katan 9.
With regard to Havdalah
At the end of the first day of Yom Tov, you would need to recite Havdalah during the Ma'ariv Shemoneh Esrei and then do Havdalah at home. If one is being hosted and there are other people around, then one should do the Havdalah in a room where the people won't pay attention. It is important to note that if the first day of Yom Tov is also Motzei Shabbos, then you shouldn’t light the Havdalah candle as usual, but rather you should light two matches from another light, hold them together when saying the Bracha, and then leave them to extinguish themselves. Afterwards, join the Kiddush and Yom Tov meal with the host. If, for example, Motzei Yom Tov for you is Friday night, then one can fulfill the obligation with the Kiddush that the host is reciting and you don’t need to make your own Kiddush (even though he mentions Yom Tov in his Kiddush).
Teffillah/Teffilin:
Even though, as we mentioned, one may not perform any melacha even when alone, a melacha like putting on Tefillin, which one is obligated to do, should be worn on the last day of Yom Tov in Chutz La'aretz. This is because, for a Ben Eretz Yisrael, it is not considered Yom Tov. However, one should do so in a private place where people won't see him and should say a Mizmor (or recite Kriat Shema or a parsha or a chapter of Tehillim). After putting them away, one should then go to shul (one doesn’t say the long Yom Tov Pesukei Dezimrah of Yom Tov and not Nishmat). While the minyan is reciting the Shemoneh Esrei of Yom Tov, you should say the Shemoneh Esrei of Yemei Chol. And when they say Hallel, one should recite Hallel with them, without reciting the bracha at the beginning and end.
Le'halacha, even if there is a minyan of men from Eretz Yisrael, they may not form a minyan for themselves, not even to perform hakafot on Sukkot, unless they are in a place that is a kilometer away from the town with local Jews. Although vice versa, a Ben Chutz La'aretz who is in Eretz Yisrael may form minyanim in Eretz Yisrael when it is Yom Tov for them.
Pesach Leil HaSeder.
The second night of Yom Tov in Chutz La'aretz is Leil HaSeder; however, for a Ben Eretz Yisrael, it is considered as Chol HaMoed.
As we explained before, If one is in the presence of the local Jews, one has to act as though one is participating, so the halacha is as follows:
If you are alone in the house, then you just need to say Havdalah and can go to sleep; you do not need to act as though you are making Leil HaSeder. However, if you are with others, then after you did Havdalah as explained earlier, you should sit with the host for Leil HaSeder and recite the Haggadah with them. However, you should be careful not to recite the blessings of the Haggadah (Kiddush, Asher Ge'alanu, Brachot HaGafen on the second and fourth cups for Bnei Ashkenaz); instead, you should ask the Bnei Chutz La'aretz to exempt you with their blessings. Although, you may recite HaGafen on the first and third cups.
Aliyot.
If for you it is either Chol Hamoed or a week day then you can only receive an Aliyah if it is a day that would have been Kriat Hatorah for you any way, for example, if its Chol hamoed for you or Monday or Thursday etc.
Wishing you a chug kasher vesameach.
Source
Pesachim page 52
Mishnah Berurah Siman 496 seif Katan 9.
Azamroh Li’shmecho Issue #200