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If you’re living in Amman, Jordan, I believe that you need to keep two days of Yom Tov. But if you’re in Eilat, you keep one day. Why?

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Amman has never been under Jewish rulership (it was the capital of the Ammonite kingdom). By contrast, Eilat (or neighboring Etzion Gever) was controlled by Shlomo (I Kings 9:26), Yehoshafat (ibid. 22:49), and Uzziah (II Kings 14:22) - it was permanently wrested away only in Achaz's times (ibid. 16:6) - so there is much more reason to consider it part of biblical Israel.

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    But wouldn't the important factor be kedusha shenya, or probably even where the messengers reached/could reach?
    – Double AA ♦
    Aug 7, 2012 at 13:00
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    Biblical Eilat is not necessarily the same place.
    – Ariel K
    Mar 15, 2013 at 3:56
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    @DoubleAA, Rambam holds it depends on where messengers actually reached, so even in Israel (and even near Jerusalem) one could keep two days. Others just go by Eretz Yisrael and now by Israel's actual borders.
    – Ariel K
    Mar 15, 2013 at 3:57
  • @ArielK You lumped two things together there. I know of the Rambam's opinion, which is why I mentioned the messengers. I know of opinions that Kedusha Shniya should matter, which is why I mentioned it. I don't know why the current borders of Israel matter, nor do I know why you lumped that in with Kedusha Shniya.
    – Double AA ♦
    Mar 15, 2013 at 14:48
  • @DoubleAA, I'm saying what many people follow now, it's not hard to see how that developed.
    – Ariel K
    Mar 15, 2013 at 14:54

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