Answer by Rabbi Chaim Hillel Raskin, Rov in Kfar Chabad Beis in Israel:
It is rabbinically prohibited to prepare on yom tov or Shabbos for the next day, whether it is a weekday, Shabbos or the second day of yom tov. This includes even tasks that don’t involve any melacha and would otherwise be permitted to be done for the day itself; if they entail effort, one may not do them in preparation for the next day.
For this reason, one may not wash dishes on the first day of yom tov for the evening meal, roll the sefer Torah for the next day’s kriah, or bring wine from the basement for kiddush or havdala the following night.
If, however, one actually benefits from this activity on the same day, it is permitted even if the same action also prepares for the next day. Thus, a Baal Korei may prepare the leining on Yom Tov for the next day (the Torah study is an immediate benefit).
Likewise, one may do simple things which bring benefit the same day, e.g. return food to the fridge so it doesn’t get ruined today (even though that way it will stay fresh for the next day).
If there is an eruv, one may bring his tallis and siddur back home as long as he doesn’t say he is preparing it for tomorrow, for it is considered completing its usage today and not a preparation for the next day. Where there is no eruv, one may not carry on yom tov unless it is for yom tov itself, thus one must wear the tallis home and use the siddur when he gets home.
If the task itself entails a melacha that is permitted on yom tov (e.g. food related), there is a prohibition min haTorah to do it for the next day. If it will be ready early enough to potentially benefit from it that day, the prohibition is midrabanan.
For this reason, we may not light the yom tov candles (or even prepare them) on the second night until nightfall unless it is dark in the house.
Although some poskim allow having a non-Jew do non-melacha activities for the next day, the Alter Rebbe rules that one may not do so, and it is akin to asking a non-Jew perform a rabbinic prohibition. The only time is it permitted is if there is a major necessity, great loss, or a mitzva need.
Therefore, a kiddush for Simchas Torah evening should only be set up after nightfall, even if a non-Jew is the one setting it up. If one cannot find anyone who can set it up in the evening even for pay, this would be considered a great need, and it would be allowed to have a non- Jew do it for him by day.
It is important to note that one may not plan or position himself to rely on asking a non-Jew to perform a rabbinic melacha because of a great need, and it is only permissible in the event that one is stuck.
Published in the Weekly Farbrengen, an email by Merkaz Anash. See sources
