Isru chag facts for kids

Isru Chag (pronounced Iss-roo Khag) is a special day in Judaism. Its name comes from a Hebrew phrase meaning "Bind the Festival." This day happens right after each of the three main Pilgrimage Festivals. These festivals are Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot.

Isru Chag helps connect the joy and holiness of these big holidays to the rest of the year. It's like a bridge that extends the holiday feeling for one more day.

What is Isru Chag?

Isru Chag is the day that follows immediately after the end of a major Jewish holiday. These holidays are Pesach (Passover), Shavuot, and Sukkot. In Israel, these holidays are usually one day shorter than outside Israel. This means Isru Chag might be observed on a different day depending on where you are.

Why is it called Isru Chag?

The name "Isru Chag" comes from a verse in the Book of Psalms (Psalm 118:27). This verse says, "Bind the festival offering with cords to the corners of the altar."

Ancient Jewish teachers, called the Sages of the Talmud, explained this verse in a special way. They taught that if someone adds to the holiday by eating and drinking extra, it's like they offered a sacrifice on the altar. This means celebrating Isru Chag with food and drink is a good deed.

Extending the Holiday's Light

Many Jewish thinkers have explained why Isru Chag is important. One famous Kabbalist (a Jewish mystic) named Rabbi Isaac Luria (who lived from 1534 to 1572) taught about it. He said that we connect the day after a holiday to the holiday itself.

This is because some of the holiday's special "light" or holiness remains. By observing Isru Chag, we help to extend this holiness. It's a way to keep the good feelings and spiritual energy of the holiday going a little longer.

How Isru Chag is Observed

Jewish communities have different customs for observing Isru Chag. Many of these customs involve adding a bit of celebration to the day.

Eating, Drinking, and Fasting

Rabbi Moses Isserles (1520–1572), a very important Jewish legal scholar, wrote about this custom. He said that it is common to eat and drink a little more on Isru Chag. This helps to make the day feel like an extension of the festival.

Because it is a day of extended celebration, fasting is generally not allowed on Isru Chag. Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan (1838–1933), also known as the Chofetz Chaim, ruled this. However, in very difficult times, a community might decide to fast.

Special Prayers

On Isru Chag, most Jewish communities skip a set of special prayers called Tachanun. These are prayers of asking for mercy and forgiveness. They are usually said on weekdays.

Skipping Tachanun shows that Isru Chag is a day of joy and not sadness. It's similar to how Tachanun is skipped on other happy days like Shabbat or major holidays.

See also

In Spanish: Isru Jag para niños