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The Yahrzeit for my father falls on 7 Sivan. In the past it was always my custom to fast on 8 Sivan unless it was a Shabbat. Then I would fast on 9 Sivan.

This came up in discussion with my (Chabad) Rabbi. He told me that it is forbidden to fast on the first 12 days of Sivan. Why is that?

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    8 Sivan cannot fall on shabbat in our current calendar.
    – Joel K
    May 23, 2018 at 10:22

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R Eli Mansour explains here

During the times of the Beth Hamikdash, those who were unable to bring their sacrifices on the day of Shavuot itself – which in Israel is celebrated only on the sixth of Sivan - were allowed to do so during the six days following Shavuot, through the twelfth of Sivan

As such some don't say Tahanun in the week after Shavuot. The Mishna Brura 131:36 for instance writes

There are places that omit Tachnun for six days after Shavuot, because the sacrifices of Shavuos have seven days of Tashlumin - compensation.

Similarly the Alter Rebbe of Chabad writes in his siddur

One may not fast from the first of Sivan until after Shavuos. [This applies until, and including, the 12th of Sivan]

while in the Shulchan HaRav, he permits fasting from the 9th.

It is very likely your Chabad rabbi refers to these rulings.

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    Indeed this is traditionally a Hasidic/Sefardic position, so it is consistent coming from a Chabad rabbi. The Rama on the other hand for Ashkenazim is clear that Tachanun restarts right away on 9 Sivan
    – Double AA ♦
    May 23, 2018 at 11:48
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    @DoubleAA Although the prevalent custom in Israel, even for Ashkenazim, is to omit tachanun until after the twelfth. (The exception apparently being followers of the Chazon Ish who restart from the 8th - day after Isru Chag in Israel.)
    – Joel K
    May 23, 2018 at 12:07
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    @joelk like other things, many Israeli Ashkenazim took on various local Sefardi customs (eg. Morid haTal) for better or worse. It takes real dedication to your tradition to say Tachanun for 5 more days than everyone else. It's unfortunately not surprising that many Ashkenazim caved
    – Double AA ♦
    May 23, 2018 at 12:08
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    For the incredibly reasonable prohibition of Kitniyot the Ashkenzi rabbis in Israel fight tooth and nail, but give 'em a newfangled obscure reason to skip Tachanun for a week and even they'll jump ship!
    – Double AA ♦
    May 23, 2018 at 12:26
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    @ribbis In his Siddur he generally adopted the more Kabbalistic/Sefardic practices. In his earlier Shulchan Arukh he generally codified the traditional Ashkenzi rulings
    – Double AA ♦
    May 23, 2018 at 13:00

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