Staying Overnight in Yerushalayim

וּבִשַּׁלְתָּ וְאָּכַּׁלְתָּ בַּׁמָּקוֹם אֲש ר יִבְחַּׁר ה' אֱלֹה יךָ בוֹ וּפָּנִיתָּ בַּׁבֹּק ר וְהָּלַּׁכְתָּ לְאֹּ קָּ ל יךָ: (דברים טז, ז)

Rosh HaShana 5a-b discusses the obligation of linah - staying over in Yerushalayim even after having sacrificed the obligatory korbanos associated with the three pilgrimage holidays of Pesach, Shavuos and Sukkos. Regarding the holiday of Pesach, the Torah (Devarim 16,7) commands that the korban Pesach must be eaten in the place chosen by God and that "you shall turn in the morning and go to your tents." This passage is understood by the Sifri as commanding people who come to the Bais HaMikdash to stay overnight, leaving only the next morning.

How long does one need to remain in Yerushalayim in order to fulfill the obligation of linah?

• Rashi teaches that a person must stay until the morning after the first day of the holiday (first day of Chol haMoed). One is obligated to be “seen” in the Azarah on Yom Tov day.
• Tosafos argue that for Pesach and Sukkos, which are each weeklong holidays a person must stay for the entire Yom Tov and cannot mean just one day since one would then have a problem with Techum limits of travel on Yom Tov.
• Another opinion suggests that we must differentiate between Sukkos, where a person is obligated to remain in Yerushalayim for the entire holiday, and Pesach, where the obligation is to remain only the first day. The need to remain for all of Sukkos is supported by the need to bring a unique sacrifice on each day of the holiday (called parei ha-chag, see Bemidbar 29:12-38) and is further suggested by the simple reading of the story of the consecration of the First Bais haMikdash in Sefer Melachim (I 8:65-66).
• The Ritva suggests another approach, which distinguishes between the obligation that stems from the sacrifice, which is only one day, and the obligation that stems from the holiday itself, which will obligate people to remain until the Yom Tov is over.

Does part of the night qualify as the “whole” night?

• Some bring a proof from Bava Metziah (110a) that a day laborer can collect the entire night until the morning. Rashi explains that the word לינה always means an entire night rest until the morning.
• Tosafos goes back and forth attempting to determine the law in regarding to Nosar and to Kiddush Yadayim about before and after day break.
• Apparently, the halacha is that לינה is the entire night until daybreak.

Reason for the law of Linah:

• To fully appreciate the korbanos that were brought and to allow for appropriate time to eat them, requires staying overnight so one does not rush off.
• To provide complete honor to the Yom Tov. This obligation is explained by the Sefas Emes as stemming from a desire to show that a visit to the Bais haMikdash is not simply a brief stopover, but is rather a significant, overnight stay.
• In the morning (when returning to one’s usual activities after experiencing the special closeness of Yom Tov) one should remember that all one’s “turns” and “goings” should be towards G-d. (Lubavitcher Rebbe)