Babylonian Talmud: Beitzah 4a-6a and Hagigah 8a-b Jerusalem Talmud: Eruvin 3:9, Pesachim 5:4, Yevamot 11:7, and Nazir 8:1 Mishneh Torah: Sefer Zmanim, Hilchot Shevitot Yom Tov 1:22-24, and Kiddoush Hahodesh 5:5-13 Shulchan Aruch: Orach Chayim 490, 494:2, 496, 503, 513, 526, 662, 663, 666, 669 and Yoreh De'ah 299 | ||
Yom tov sheni shel galuyot (Hebrew: יום טוב שני של גלויות), also called in short yom tov sheni, means "the second festival day in the Diaspora", and is an important concept in halakha (Jewish law). The concept refers to the observance of an extra day of Jewish holidays outside of the land of Israel.
Yom tov sheni was established as a gezera (rabbinic law) by the rabbis of the Sanhedrin in the Second Temple period, approximately 2,000 years ago, and is observed to this day by Orthodox and Conservative Jews. Reform Judaism abolished it in 1844, and Reconstructionist Judaism also largely did the same.
Observance
The second day is observed for all Biblically-ordained festivals, with exceptions (see below).
Thus, Shavuot is one day in Israel and two days in the Diaspora. Pesach is a seven-day festival in Israel, the first and last days of which are holy days, with five days of Chol HaMoed in between. In the Diaspora, it is an eight-day festival, with a pair of holy days at the start and finish, and four days Chol HaMoed.
Sukkot is a seven-day festival in Israel, the first day of which is a holy day, followed by six days of Chol Hamoed. These are, in turn, followed immediately on the eighth day by the separate-but-related holy day of Shemini Atzeret. In the Diaspora, the first two days are holy days, and are followed by five days of Chol Hamoed. These are in turned followed by two holy days of Shemini Atzeret. However, in the Diaspora, the name "Shemini Atzeret" is used only to refer to the first of the two days; the second day is called Simchat Torah.
There are two exceptions to the rule. The fast day of Yom Kippur, which is one day even in the Diaspora, due to the difficulty of a two-day fast. Also, Rosh Hashanah is two days even in Israel, because it falls on the first day of the month; thus, even Israelis would not find out the correct day until after the holiday. Conservative Judaism uniformly observes two days of Rosh Hashanah as well, as do some Reform congregations.