HaChodesh & the Second Day of Yom Tov

Parshas Hachodesh is the last of the “Four Parshiyos”. It is read on the Shabbos before (or on) Rosh Chodesh Nissan and serves to herald the arrival of the Pesach season. In this Parsha we are given the Mitzva of Rosh Chodesh, which is the basis of the Jewish calendar and the observance of the Yomim Tovim.

In earlier generations Rosh Chodesh was established through the testimony of witnesses who would have seen the new moon. In those days it was possible for Rosh Chodesh to be either the thirtieth day or the thirty first day following the start of the previous month. As such, Rosh Chodesh was sometimes observed as a one day festival and sometimes as a two day festival, just like it is today. Since communication and travel in those days was very time consuming the sages decreed that all those who live far from Yerushalayim should keep two days of Yom Tov due to the doubt as to when Rosh Chodesh had been declared. This decree still applies today and is known as Yom Tov Sheini Shel Galuyos.

This week’s journal will focus on the halachos pertaining to Yom Tov Sheini Shel Galuyos.