If somebody visiting a Diaspora community from Israel is in the synagogue on Yom Tob Sheni, may he be called to the Torah for an Aliya? Since residents of Israel observe only one day of Yom Tob, and thus this visitor is not observing that day as Yom Tob, is he excluded from the Yom Tob Torah reading, such that he should not receive an Aliya?
The Hida (Rav Haim Yosef Dacis Azulai, 1724-1807) addresses this question in one of his responsa (Haim Sha’al, 1:13), in reference to the case of an Israeli visiting a Diaspora community on the final day of Yom Tob (such as Simhat Torah). The Hida writes that since for the Israeli that day is an ordinary weekday, when there is no requirement to read the Torah, he should not be called for an Aliya. Indeed, the Hida writes that it was customary among Rabbis from Israel visiting Diaspora communities to try to avoid the Gabbai in the synagogue on the final day of Yom Tob in order not to be called for an Aliya. However, the Hida makes an exception in a case where the final day of Yom Tob is a Monday or Thursday. Since even in Israel the Torah is read that day, despite its being an ordinary weekday (since the Torah is read every Monday and Thursday), the Israeli visitor may be called for an Aliya.
Hacham Ovadia Yosef accepted the Hida ruling, but added that even on a Monday or Thursday, the Israeli visitor should not be counted for one of the five obligatory Aliyot. Thus, on Simhat Torah, when it is customary for every man in the synagogue to receive an Aliya, the visitor from Israel may receive an Aliya after the required five Aliyot have been called. Nevertheless, Hacham Ovadia ruled, the visitor should not be honored as one of the Hatanim.
Recently, a community synagogue hosted a visitor from Israel on the second day of Sukkot, which in Israel is observed as the first day of Hol Ha’mo’ed, and the question arose as to whether this visitor would be allowed to be called for an Aliya. According to the Hida’s ruling, it would certainly be permissible, at least in principle, to call this visitor for an Aliya, as in Israel it was Hol Ha’mo’ed when the Torah is read.
