Letter & Spirit: Yomtov Sheini Shel Goluyos

In this week’s edition of Letter & Spirit, we present a letter from the Rebbe in which he deals with the question of whether one should keep two days of Yomtov while in Eretz Yisroel if one resides in Chutz L’Aretz and owns a home or property in Eretz Yisroel. The letter was written through the Rebbe’s trusted secretary Rabbi Nissan Mindel, and was made available by the latter’s son-in-law, Rabbi Sholom Ber Shapiro.

This weekly feature is made possible by a collaboration between CrownHeights.info and Nissan Mindel Publications. Once a week we publish a unique letter of the Rebbe that was written originally in the English language, as dictated by the Rebbe to Rabbi Mindel.

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By the Grace of G-d

20^th of Cheshvan, 5732

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Mr.

Lawrence, N.Y.

Greeting and Blessing:

I am in receipt of your letter in which you ask my opinion as to whether it is necessary to observe the second days of Yom Tov in a case where an apartment was bought in Eretz Yisrael but the person lives Chutz L’Aretz.

Although generally it is not my custom to paskin shaalos, which is the prerogative of practicing Rabbonim and Rabbinic bodies, such as the Union of Orthodox Rabbis, etc., I am making an exception in this case, seeing that you mention that some individuals and families have actually been misled into wrong and curious consequences.

Clearly and without any doubt whatever, a Jew who lives in Chutz L’Aretz though he may have bought an apartment or other property in Eretz Yisrael, is obligated by the halacha  to observe Yom Tov shel Golus, as strictly as any other Jew living in Chutz L’Aretz. It is indeed, astonishing that there can be any thought otherwise.

I recall, of course, our personal meeting. I trust that the matters of health discussed at the time turned out satisfactorily and that all is well.

                                                                 With blessing,

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The above letter is from a forthcoming volume of The Letter and the Spirit Series, two volumes of which have been published to date, with volume three coming out shortly, IYH. The letters are from the archives of Rabbi Dr. Nissan Mindel, a personal secretary to the Previous Rebbe and The Rebbe, whose responsibilities included the Rebbe’s correspondence in English.

We thank Rabbi Sholom Ber Shapiro, director of Nissan Mindel Publications and the one entrusted by Rabbi Mindel, his father-in-law, with his archives, for making these letters available to the wider public. May the merit of the many stand him in good stead.