312 On the second day, we complete the Hallel. [We say] the full Kaddish. And we sit and read the Scroll of Ruth. [We do so] because it is written in it (Ruth 1:22), "at the beginning of the barley harvest" - corresponding to [Shavuot], which is called, "the first fruits of the wheat harvest" (Exodus 34:12). And some say it is because Ruth converted, as it is written (Ruth 2:12), "under whose wings you have sought refuge”; and we say in [the chapter entitled] HaCholetz that Naomi said to her, "It is forbidden for us to go outside of the Shabbat perimeter." She said to her, "Where you will go, I will go" (Ruth 1:16), etc. And the Israelites converted on [Shavuot] and entered under the wings of the Divine Presence with the receiving of the Torah. Additional comment: And in Midrash Ruth, we say, "Why is Ruth said on [Shavuot], at the time of the giving of the Torah? To teach you that the Torah was only given through afflictions and poverty." And so did Rav Yehudah ben Barzilai write in his [book of] laws: That when Israel left Egypt, they were redeemed through afflictions; and so too Ruth - "there was a famine in the land" (Ruth 1:1) - and she received the Torah when she converted. And in Tractate Soferim (14:3), we say, "One who reads from Ruth, the Song of Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations and from the Scroll of Esther, must recite [the blessing that concludes], 'concerning the reading of the Megillah' - even though it is included in the Writings. But one who reads from the Writings must recite, 'Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with Your commandments and has commanded us to read in the Holy Writings.'" Additional comment: [After] they read the Scroll of Ruth, the youth (in mourning) says Kaddish, without [the section that begins,] titkabal, and we [then] take out two Torahs. We read [the portion that begins], "Every firstborn" (Deuteronomy 15:19). But if it is Shabbat, we begin with [the portion that begins], "You shall surely tithe" (Deuteronomy 14:22) - to enlarge [the reading] for the tally of seven (who go up to read from the Torah when it is Shabbat). And the maftir (the concluding Torah reading) is, "And on the Day of the First Fruits" (Numbers 28:26), like that of yesterday. And he concludes in Habakkuk up until, "For the leader; with instrumental music" (Habakkuk, 3:19). ([It is] the end of Habakkuk) - it is because it is written there, "God is coming from Teiman" (Habakkuk, 3:3). And we give out charity only for the living. Additional comment: It is because they read today, "Everyone according to the gift of his hand, etc." (Deuteronomy 16:15). And likewise is it the custom every last day of the festivals - since we read this section - to give out charity only for the living, but not for the [sake of the] dead, so as not to grieve over them. For it is written about the festivals (Deuteronomy 16:15), "and you shall be just happy." And likewise is it the custom in Ashkenaz that we do not give our charity for the dead on the three festivals, but rather only on Yom Kippur. [And then] Ashrei. [Then] Kaddish. Until deamiran. And we pray the additional service (Musaf). Like that of yesterday.