Reply To: Chanukah Thoughts

In chutz laaretz outside of Eretz Yisroel we keep two days Yom Tov because when they designated Rosh Chodash by witnesses who claimed they saw the moon, there were places that were too far that the messengers informing this fact should arrive would make two days Rosh Chodash thereby making Yomim Tovim also two days for safeka deyoma. When it came to burrial of the dead, the first day, only non-jews could do it wheeas the second dau of Yom Tov, our chachomim were more lenient were Jews were able to perform the burrial. הזהרו במנהג אבותיכם דזמנו דגזרו המלכות גזירה ואתי לקלקולי the chachomim were afraid even though we currently use calculations, that a wicked king will arise again who will not allow us to calculate Rosh Chodash and we can end up eating chametz on Pesach. The keeping of our customs is one our most important tenant of Judaism for that the heavenly court will destroy a bad decree. Chanukah might have required to be celebrated an extra day for sefaka deyome.