Isru Chag
Outside of Israel, Shavuot is celebrated for two days – also on the 7th of Sivan, called “Yom Tov Sheini Shel Galuyot”, and all the laws of the festival apply.
In Israel, the 7th of Sivan is called: “Isru Chag” – and that is also the name of the day following each of the “Shalosh Regalim”: Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot.
Our sages encouraged continuing the joy of the holiday even after its formal conclusion, saying: “Whoever ties (meaning connects an additional day) to the holiday with food and drink – is as if he built an altar and sacrificed on it a sacrifice”.
When the Temple stood, every Jew was obliged to fulfill the commandment of “Aliyah LaRegel”: to ascend to Jerusalem on Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot, referred to as the “Shalosh Regalim”. Some of the “Olim LaRegel” would stay in Jerusalem even on the day after the festival, and from there came the custom to also celebrate the following day.
Today, we tend to honor the day of “Isru Chag” with the following customs:
- We do not fast on this day.
- We try to have festive meals on it.
