Isru Chag
Encyclopedia
Isru Chag refers to the day after each of the three pilgrimage festivals in Judaism
: Pesach, Shavuot
and Sukkot
. The origins of the phrase ‘Isru Chag’ is from the verse in that states “Bind the festival offering
with cords to the corners of the altar.” This verse, according to the Sages of the Talmud
should homiletically be understood to mean “Whosoever makes an addition to the Festival by eating and drinking is regarded by Scripture as though he had built an altar and offered thereon a sacrifice.”
Ben Ish Chai
in a responsa
to a community that had inquired as to the rationale behind the observance of Isru Chag cited Rabbi Isaac Luria
to the effect that we connect the day after the holiday to the holiday itself due to the remaining “light” of the holiday – in other words, so that the sanctity of the holiday will be extended.
has ruled that the minhag
(custom) is to generally forbid fasting on Isru Chag, except in instances when as a result of great distress the community synagogue
decrees it.
Almost all communities omit Tachanun
on Isru Chag. However, those communities that follow Maimonides
' rulings such as the Dor Daim
maintain that the only days on which Tachanun is to be omitted are Shabbat
, Yom Tov, Rosh HaShana, Rosh Chodesh
, Chanukah, Purim
, and the Mincha
before Shabbat and Yom Tov.
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
: Pesach, Shavuot
Shavuot
The festival of is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan ....
and Sukkot
Sukkot
Sukkot is a Biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei . It is one of the three biblically mandated festivals Shalosh regalim on which Hebrews were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.The holiday lasts seven days...
. The origins of the phrase ‘Isru Chag’ is from the verse in that states “Bind the festival offering
Korban
The term offering as found in the Hebrew Bible in relation to the worship of Ancient Israel is mainly represented by the Hebrew noun korban whether for an animal or other offering...
with cords to the corners of the altar.” This verse, according to the Sages of the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
should homiletically be understood to mean “Whosoever makes an addition to the Festival by eating and drinking is regarded by Scripture as though he had built an altar and offered thereon a sacrifice.”
Ben Ish Chai
Ben Ish Chai
Yosef Chaim or in Iraqi Hebrew Yoseph Ḥayyim was a leading hakham , authority on Jewish law and Master Kabbalist...
in a responsa
History of Responsa
History of responsa in Judaism spans a period of 1,700 years. Responsa constitute a special class of rabbinic literature, differing in form, but not necessarily in content, from Rabbinic commentaries devoted to the exegesis of the Bible, the Mishnah, the Talmud, and halakha...
to a community that had inquired as to the rationale behind the observance of Isru Chag cited Rabbi Isaac Luria
Isaac Luria
Isaac Luria , also called Yitzhak Ben Shlomo Ashkenazi acronym "The Ari" "Ari-Hakadosh", or "Arizal", meaning "The Lion", was a foremost rabbi and Jewish mystic in the community of Safed in the Galilee region of Ottoman Palestine...
to the effect that we connect the day after the holiday to the holiday itself due to the remaining “light” of the holiday – in other words, so that the sanctity of the holiday will be extended.
Observances
Adding a degree of festivity to the day as a practice has further been codified in Ashkenazic communities, as the Rema has stated in his notes on the Orach Chaim “And we have the custom to eat and drink a little more on the day after the holiday - and that is the day known as "bind the festival."” The Chofetz ChaimChofetz Chaim
"The Chofetz Chaim" is a book on the Jewish laws of speech written by Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan....
has ruled that the minhag
Minhag
Minhag is an accepted tradition or group of traditions in Judaism. A related concept, Nusach , refers to the traditional order and form of the prayers...
(custom) is to generally forbid fasting on Isru Chag, except in instances when as a result of great distress the community synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
decrees it.
Almost all communities omit Tachanun
Tachanun
Tachanun or , also called nefillat apayim is part of Judaism's morning and afternoon services, after the recitation of the Amidah, the central part of the daily Jewish prayer services...
on Isru Chag. However, those communities that follow Maimonides
Maimonides
Moses ben-Maimon, called Maimonides and also known as Mūsā ibn Maymūn in Arabic, or Rambam , was a preeminent medieval Jewish philosopher and one of the greatest Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages...
' rulings such as the Dor Daim
Dor Daim
The Dardaim or Dor daim , are adherents of the Dor Deah movement in Judaism. That movement was founded in 19th century Yemen by Rabbi Yiḥyah Qafiḥ, and had its own network of synagogues and schools.Its objects were:...
maintain that the only days on which Tachanun is to be omitted are Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
, Yom Tov, Rosh HaShana, Rosh Chodesh
Rosh Chodesh
Rosh Chodesh or Rosh ḥodesh is the name for the first day of every month in the Hebrew calendar, marked by the appearance of the new moon. The new moon is marked by the day and hour that the new crescent is observed...
, Chanukah, Purim
Purim
Purim is a Jewish holiday that commemorates the deliverance of the Jewish people in the ancient Persian Empire from destruction in the wake of a plot by Haman, a story recorded in the Biblical Book of Esther .Purim is celebrated annually according to the Hebrew calendar on the 14th...
, and the Mincha
Mincha
Mincha, מנחה is the afternoon prayer service in Judaism.-Etymology:The name "Mincha" is derived from the meal offering that accompanied each sacrifice.-Origin:...
before Shabbat and Yom Tov.