Our Rabbi's Message
April 17th 2009
By Rabbi Aaron KriegelJudaism has a strange and neglected holiday called 'Isru-Chag.' It occurs the day after each of our festivals end. Holiday is not a good word for the day because it does not contain the strictures' that most holidays have. One is allowed to work on 'Isru-Chag,' and there are no special foods that have to be eater on that day. There is no special liturgy for 'Isru-Chag.' 'Isru-Chag' happens because we just finished celebrating a holiday and we are all wound up in the celebration. We need time to put our lives in order. We need time to recognize the full benefit of the days that have just past.
Everyone who celebrates Pesach understands that there is a long preparation for that holiday. We are commanded to begin studying about the holiday thirty days before it arrives. From that day forward we are not allowed to eat matzo. During the weeks before the holiday there are special Torah and haftorah readings, and of course we have an official spring cleaning followed by burning of the chametz.
In like manner we have preparations, although not so complete, for Succoth and for Shavuoth. In fact it would be impossible to conceive of a Jewish festival without the requisite preparations. Those are the times that we wind up our enthusiasm for the coming days. However, where is the time that we are allowed to wind down from the holidays that we have just celebrated?
Winding down is a purpose of 'Isru-Chag,' when we tie together all the loose ends of the holiday celebration. The day has physical, religious and psychological implications-and as part of the holiday experience, 'Isru-Chag' allows are holidays to be complete. So Erev Shabbat this post-Pesach season is 'Isru-Chag' when we leave Pesach behind and of course prepare for Shabbat.
I hope you had a happy and kosher Pesah and that you will have a good Shabbat!
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