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From: Russell Hendel <rhendel@saber.towson.edu>
Date: Sun, 7 May 2000 21:58:35 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Why we are strict on 2nd day of Yom Tov

Ed Norin asks in Mail Jewish Volume 32 number 18
<< The last day of Passover is only a Rabbinic Yom Tov in our day of a fix
calendar.  There is also the general rule of suffiq (questions) on a
Rabbinic mitzvah, we should go lenient.  If that is true, why do we wait
as late to end the eighth day of Passover as we wait to end Shabbot?
Shouldn't we end this day about 20 minutes earlier? >>

The answer to this question is the same as the answer to the question
Why do we say blessings on the 2nd day of Yom Tov (since it is doubtful
and we should not say blessings when we have a doubt).

The talmud answers that Chazal deliberately gave "Treatment as if it had
certain Biblical status" to the 2nd day of Yom Tov "in order that people
should not make fun of it".

I believe this answer would apply to Ed's question also

Russell Jay Hendel; PHd ASA; RHendel@Towson.Edu
Moderator Rashi is Simple
http://www.shamash.org/rashi/