Flying Abroad on the Second Day of Yom Tov
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Question
I need to fly immediately after the holiday of Shavuot for a mission abroad. A travel agent offered me a flight the day after the holiday, with a layover in Germany in the afternoon and a departure an hour later on a connecting flight. I noticed that at this time it is still the second day of Yom Tov in Germany, but I am Israeli. Is there a problem with this? I urgently need a quick answer, as the flight might get booked. Thank you in advance.
Answer
Hello
The general rule is that an Israeli staying abroad must observe the second day of Yom Tov if they are near a Jewish community.
Therefore, you should check if the airport is within the boundary [2000 cubits - about one kilometer] of a place with Jewish residents. If so, you are prohibited from desecrating Yom Tov there, and you will not be able to board the connecting flight, nor perform any work there [such as confirming tickets at a machine, etc.]. However, if there is no Jewish community nearby, the laws of Yom Tov do not apply to you, and you may land and take off from there.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Laws of Yom Tov, Siman 496, Seif 3
Residents of the Land of Israel who come abroad are forbidden to do work on the second day of Yom Tov in settled areas, even if they intend to return; and as long as they have not reached a settled area, even if they do not intend to return, it is permitted, because they have not yet been established as part of the local community.
Mishna Berura, Siman 496, Seif Katan 10
In settled areas - excluding if they have left the settled area and come to the desert, they do not need to follow the customs of the diaspora, as they do not intend to settle there. It is stated that a settled area specifically means a Jewish settlement, and as long as they have not reached a Jewish city, they do not need to follow the strict customs of that place. It is also stated that within the boundary is like within the city, and they must follow the strict customs of that place: