Yom Tov: Eating Before Davening, Yizkor, Musaf

Eating Before Making Jewish Festival Kiddush

As on Shabbat, you may eat non-mezonot and non-bread food before praying Jewish festival shacharit and without making kiddush, in order to avoid hunger or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).

Women and Minimum Prayer before Jewish Festival Kiddush

The minimum prayer that a woman should say on Jewish festival (or Shabbat) morning before saying kiddush and eating some food is birchot ha'shachar.

Eating Before Jewish Festival Midday

As on Shabbat, don't fast on Jewish festivals (except Yom Kippur!) past halachic midday.

If you will not finish shacharit before halachic midday, you should eat or drink earlier in the day, even before you begin shacharit—water can be sufficient for this purpose.

If you will finish shacharit, but not musaf, by halachic midday:

Finish shacharit,

Make kiddush,

Eat some mezonot, and then

Return to say musaf.

Eating Only After Jewish Festival Kiddush

As on Shabbat, once you have said the amida of Jewish festival shacharit, you may not eat any food until you have said (or heard) kiddush and finished kiddush requirements by either drinking 4 fl. oz. (119 ml) of wine/grape juice or eating at least 1.3 fl. oz. (39 ml, or 1/6 cup) of mezonot or bread.

YIZKOR

Reason for Yizkor

Yizkor on Yom Kippur serves as a type of elevation for the souls of dead people.

When To Say Yizkor

Yizkor is not required to be said at all, but it is the custom in most places. Yizkor is normally said on Yom Kippur (and the final day of Passover, the second day of Shavuot and on Shmini Atzeret), when many people attend the synagogue prayer services.

Yizkor may be said anytime you wish—even when it is not a Jewish festival--and does not require a minyan.

MUSAF

Additions for Sacrifices: Sukkot

In the amida of musaf for Sukkot, there is a different line added about the sacrifices for each day.

Outside Eretz Yisrael

Since two days of Jewish festival are observed outside of Eretz Yisrael, read the lines for the sacrifice for both days that might have been the correct day.

EXCEPTION: On second day of Sukkot, repeat the same lines said on the first day.

EXAMPLE: On the 4th day of Sukkot (the 2nd day of chol ha'moed), say the lines for the 3rd day and 4th day. On Shimini Atzeret, say only the lines for Shmini Atzeret.

In Eretz Yisrael

In Eretz Yisrael, read only the line for the actual (correct) day.

NOTE: After the lines about the sacrifices, say u'minchatam v'niskeichem.  If you are outside of Eretz Yisrael, you will need to say u'minchatam v'niskeichem twice:

EXAMPLE:

Say the line for the prior day's sacrifices and then say u'minchatam v'niskeichem.

Then say the line for the sacrifices for the day you are at and, again, say u'minchatam v'niskeichem.

Copyright 2015 Richard B. Aiken. Halacha L’Maaseh appears courtesy of www.practicalhalacha.com Visit their website for more information.