The Ohr HaChaim HaKadosh in his sefer Rishon LeTzion on Beitzah (15b) explains the opinion of the Rambam, that during the first half of the day which is לה', one should make sure to eat the seudah in order that he doesn’t end up fasting until chatzos. And in the second half of the day from after Mincha which is לכם , one should make part of it לה' by davening Mincha. This way, it comes out that what was lacking from לה' in the first part – due to the seudah, is made up for in the second half with Mincha, and it comes out, that one is keeping exactlyחצי לה' וחצי לכם . Therefore, he writes, one should be careful not to stretch out the seudah too much in order not to steal from the half which is לה', which is made up in the part of the day which is לכם with Mincha. It’s clear from the Ohr HaChaim that he learns that the day should be split exactly half-half.
The Bach (Hilchos Shabbos 242) also learns half-half is precise, however, there is a difference between Shabbos and Yom Tov. On Shabbos one should spend most of the dayלה' and only part of the day לכם , whereas on Yom Tov it should be specifically half-half. See inside where he is medayek this from the Rambam.
The Shagas Aryeh (siman 69) also takes on like the above, that the day should be split exactly half-half.
Poskim Who Hold Chatsi LaHashem veChatsi Lachem Doesn’t Need to Be Exact
The Pri MeGodim (242, Eishel Avraham 1) writes: “The חצי לה' doesn’t need to be exact, and the day should be split partלה' and part לכם . There is a mitzvas aseh to eat, and one can choose whether he wants to split the day and have the majority for ה' or majority for לכם , or if he wants to split the day exactly half -half.”
The Sefas Emes (Beitzah 15a) writes: That which the poskim write that the day needs to be split exactly half-half, doesn’t seem correct.
The Shu”t Divrei Malkiel (Vol. 4 siman 28) also takes on that half-half is not literal, and he cites proof from the Gemara in Succah (53a). The Gemara says: R’ Yehoshua says: When Klal Yisroel rejoiced at the Simchas Beis HaSho’evah, they never saw sleep. How? The first hour of the day they brought the morning tamid, from there they went to daven, then they went bring the korban Mussaf, then they went to daven Mussaf, then they went to the Beis HaMedrash to learn, then they went to eat and drink. Then they went to daven Mincha, then they went to bring the afternoon tamid, and then they rejoiced at the Simchas Beis HaSho’evah. It’s clear from here, that they only ate and fulfilled the requirement of לכם part of the day and not for half the day.
The Shu”t Teshuvos V’Hanagos (5:152) also takes on that the main de’O’raisa obligation is that Yom Tov should be split, partלה' and part לכם , and there is no obligation to split it exactly half-half. The main chiddush is, that even though the main mitzvah of simchas Yom Tov is to eat and drink etc. one should still make sure to have a significant part of the day which is לה'. However, if one wants to spend most of the day לה' and only a part dedicated to לכם , it’s ok. This is clear from the Yom Tov of Rosh Hashanah, as on Rosh Hashanah there is also a mitzvah of simcha as is clear from the fact there is a heter of oichel nefesh [to cook for Yom Tov] on Rosh Hashanah, yet most of the day is spent לה', and the only לכם part is the seudah. Therefore, just like Rosh Hashanah doesn’t need to be exactly half- half, the same is with all Yomim Tovim.
Can One Count the Chatsi Lachem Portion Starting from the Night?
Can one count his sleep at night towards the חצי לכם portion of Yom Tov? On Shavuos this is not so practical as most people don’t sleep, however, we still need to determine if the learning at night can be counted towards the חצי לה' portion? Can what is being done at night be included, or do we only look at what is done during the day?
From the Rambam it seems that the din of splitting Yom Tov חצי לה' חצי לכם , is only during the day, as when the Rambam speaks out how to split the day of Yom Tov, he only discusses what to do during the day. However, the Netziv (HaEmek Shailah, Sheilta 67, ois 8) writes on the Gemara in Pesachim (68b) which says: “Mar the son of Ravina would fast all year, except for on Shavuos, Purim, and erev Yom Kippur”, that he would fulfill the mitzvah of חצי לכם on Yom Tov by eating at night. It’s clear from the Netziv that the nighttime is also included. (See Shu”t Divrei Malkiel Vol. 6, end of siman 4, who also says night is included. See also R’ Elyashiv cited in Tel Talpiyos, Koivetz 68 pg. 27 who says this.)
Some Say Learning Torah Is Considered Chatsi Lachem
The Chiddushei Rabbeinu Dovid in Pesochim (68a) asks on Mar the son of Ravina who would fast all year, besides for Shavuos, Purim and erev Yom Kippur, how he...
