Four Questions from a Ben Eretz Yisroel in Chutz La’aretz on Yom Tov Sheini

1. Participating in a Yom Tov Sheini Seder

Question

While in the United States, my wife and I will be keeping only one day of Pesach. Although I know that I am not allowed to do melacha on Yom Tov Sheini, even in private, I would like to know if I should participate in their Seder, e.g., eat matzah and maror, and have my wife light Yom Tov candles on the second night. After Yom Tov is over, should I should make Havdalah b’tzina for my wife and myself?

Rav Auerbach 

In these circumstances, you are not obligated to attend or participate in the Seder, but I personally feel that for the sake of ne’imus and derech eretz, you should try and attend the Seder. In this vein, it is kedai for you to eat matzah as long as you are careful not to make the brocha of al achilas matzah.

Since you are only doing this for ne’imus and derech eretz, there is no need to embitter yourself and eat maror. I also do not think that it is proper for your wife to light candles on Yom Tov Sheini. After Yom Tov Rishon and Yom Tov Acharon, you should make Havdalah for yourself and your wife.

2. Baking on Chol Hamoed for Yom Tov Sheini and Afterwards

Question

My wife will be helping my mother bake during Chol Hamoed. Is my wife allowed to bake during Chol Hamoed so that the rest of my chutz la’aretz family will have food for Acharon Shel Pesach? If she is allowed to bake, may she bake extra so that we will have food for Isru Chag?

Rav Auerbach 

Your wife is permitted to bake on Chol Hamoed for all of the household members who will be keeping two days of Yom Tov as long as she does not verbalize these intentions, i.e., she should not say that she is baking for Yom Tov Sheini. Even though she will not personally be observing this day as Yom Tov, this is permitted because it is considered baking for the sake of Yom Tov. However, your wife should not bake on Chol Hamoed for you and her. Even if she does not say that she is baking for chol, baking for your Isru Chag is still forbidden. 

3. Tefillah B’tzibbur on Yom Tov Sheini

Question

May I daven a non-Yom Tov tefillah with the tzibbur on Acharon Shel Pesach?

Rav Auerbach 

At night, you may daven with the tzibbur. Even though you are davening a different tefillah than them, there is still a maylah to daven your tefillah b’tzibbur with them. However, during the day, since you will be wearing tallis and tefillin, you should daven at home in private.

4. Birkas Kohanim

Question

I have heard that there may be a problem for me to hear Birkas Kohanim on the second day of Yom Tov, since it is not Yom Tov for me. On the other hand, some rabbonim would go and hear Birkas Kohanim from Sefardim while in chutz la’aretz. How does the rov rule on this question?

Rav Auerbach

There is absolutely no problem for you to hear Birkas Kohanim on Yom Tov Sheini, or any other day of the year for that matter. You can go every day and hear Birkas Kohanim in a Sefardi shul if you want.

May you have a chag kosher vesomeiach and be able to come back to Eretz Yisroel after Pesach.