Guide to Prayer for Visitors to Israel

madrich latfilah lamevakrim b'Yisra-el

מַדְרִיךְ לַתְּפִלָּה לַמְּבַקְּרִים בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל

Israeli: ' marks a reduced vowel that Israeli speech drops (b'rachah); when the vowel is pronounced it is written e (lefanecha). - separates syllables that would otherwise run together.

How to read the transliterations

a On Sukkot's second day, one recites Ḥol HaMo'ed prayers in place of those of Yom Tov, yet abstains from performing any labor.

b On the day following Shemini Atzeret (Simḥat Torah outside Israel, Isru Ḥag in Israel), one refrains from labor, yet recites weekday prayers (donning tefillin in the morning).

c On Pesaḥ's second night, one should recite (or listen to) Kiddush, consume a kezayit of matza (without saying עַל אֲכִילַת מַצָּה) and read the Haggada (without the final blessings), since all of these constitute affirmative mitzvot from the Torah. One should abstain from performing labor, yet recite Ḥol HaMo'ed prayers, in place of those of Yom Tov.

d On Pesaḥ's eighth day, one refrains from labor and eating ḥametz, yet recites the weekday prayers (donning tefillin in the morning, if applicable).

485 Certain authorities hold that a visitor to Israel should observe only one day of Yom Tov. Per this view, local Israeli practice should be followed by the visitor without deviation [שו״ת חכם צבי, קסז].

486 Should the second day of Yom Tov outside Israel fall on Shabbat, one visiting Israel may be summoned to the Torah, although the portion read is that for Shabbat, not Yom Tov [אנשי ישראל, לה:ל (בשם רש״ז אויערבאך)].

487 When Yizkor is recited in Israel, a visitor ought not join, yet should recite Yizkor the next day with a visitors' minyan. Should such a minyan prove unavailable, some hold that one ought to join with the Israelis [שו״ת רבבות אפרים ח״א, שמב:ב]; others hold that Yizkor be recited privately the next day [שו״ת בצל החכמה ח״ד, קכ:א].

קריאת התורה

Rules of Torah Reading

488 Should Pesaḥ's eighth day or Shavuot's second day fall on Shabbat, Israeli congregations will read the fitting weekly Torah portion, while congregations outside Israel will read the special Yom Tov portion. Consequently, one journeying to or from Israel may hear the identical Torah reading two weeks running or miss an entire Torah portion. One who misses a Torah portion's reading may (some say, should) assemble a minyan for reading that portion for oneself [אנשי ישראל לח, כט: פח].

פּוּרִים

Rules of Purim

489 In Jerusalem, Purim is observed on the 15th of Adar (Shushan Purim). Outside Jerusalem, Purim is observed on the 14th of Adar. For a Jerusalem resident, Purim's day is an ordinary day: none of the Purim-related obligations are performed, and one recites the regular weekday prayers, though Taḥanun is omitted.

490 One is deemed a Jerusalem resident for these purposes if present in Jerusalem at daybreak on the morning of the 15th of Adar. Likewise, one is deemed a non-resident of Jerusalem for these purposes if outside Jerusalem at daybreak on the 14th of Adar. An opinion exists, however, that the deciding factor is one's intention on the preceding evening [משנ״ב, תרפה: יג].

491 Practically speaking, one who lodges overnight outside Jerusalem on Purim eve, yet lodges overnight in Jerusalem on Shushan Purim eve, is bound to celebrate Purim twice – first on the 14th of Adar, together with Jerusalem's non-residents, and thereafter on the 15th of Adar, together with Jerusalem's residents. Conversely, one who lodges overnight in Jerusalem on Purim eve yet lodges overnight outside Jerusalem on Shushan Purim eve would bear no obligation to celebrate Purim at all.

492 Particular rules apply to Jerusalem's residents when Shushan Purim falls on Shabbat, a circumstance known as Purim Meshulash. On Thursday night and Friday morning (14th Adar) one reads the Megilla, matching the practice outside Jerusalem. On Friday one likewise fulfills the mitzva of מתנות לאביונים (gifts to the poor). On Shabbat one inserts וְעַל הַנִּסִּים into both the Amida and Birkat HaMazon. For Maftir the Torah portion for Purim is read (page 1176). The Haftara matches that for Shabbat Zakhor: I Sam. 15:2–34. On Sunday one fulfills the mitzva of משלוח מנות (sending food portions) and סעודת פורים (the Purim feast), yet one does not insert וְעַל הַנִּסִּים into the Amida or Birkat HaMazon [שו״ע או״ח, תרפח:ו].