What to expect on the last days of Pesach in the Davening:

1. Special tune for “hama’avir Bonov” used only this night and Friday night of Parshas Beshalach.

Listen here: https://youtu.be/0DDAUGBK62U?si=s_vxoSA6xsWK_ih8

2. Special tune for Adon Olam and Yishtabach used only on the seventh day of Pesach.

3. As per our KAJ Minhog, we will NOT say the Zulas of “Yom Leyabasha” on either of the two days.

4. Al Hakol will be sung joyously on Acharon Shel Pesach as it is “Matnas Yad”. (Matnas Yad is taken from the Leinin {Kol Habechor} of every Yom Tov Sheni in Chuutz La’aretz: Ish Ke’Matnas Yado”. It then becomes a brocho given by the Rov/Chazan to the community (baavur Sheyitnu Matnas Yadam…) after Yizkor. The Minhag is to visit the Rav that afternoon and extend your hand in YomTov greeting- hence, Matnas Yado. The Vilna Ga’on was makpid to sing Al Hakol on Yomtov with great joy and was said to have exuded great Simcha from this song. (Likely a different tune, though.)

5. Ne’ilas Hachag. Whoever was Zocheh to be at Ne’ilas Hachag on Simchas Torah will remember that we sang songs for one hour uninterrupted, and it was truly the high-point of my Yom Tov.