Chol HaMoed

Chol HaMoed (“the weekday of the festival”) refers to the days between the opening festival days and the closing festival days of Passover, and likewise of Sukkot. They are neither ordinary days nor festival days in the strict sense: they keep some of the festival’s holiness without its full strictness.

Maimonides explains why work is limited: these days are called a “sacred occasion,” and festival offerings were brought on them, so work is avoided “so that they not be like ordinary days.” He adds that not all work is forbidden: some is, some is permitted, and in his view the prohibition is rabbinic in origin (Laws of Rest on a Holiday 7:1). The Shulchan Arukh likewise says that Chol HaMoed forbids some labors and permits others, and the Rema notes that the Sages permitted what is needed (Orach Chayim 530:1).

The details of what is allowed or not (which work, which travel, which purchase) vary with the authority each person follows: that is a question for one’s rabbi, not something to deduce.

1Across communities

• In the diaspora, these days begin one day later than in Israel, since the festival runs two days instead of one: the same date can be Yom Tov in New York and Chol HaMoed in Tel Aviv.
• Sephardic, Ashkenazi, and Mizrahi families: habits of prayer, meals, and activity during these days differ by community custom. Ask your own family’s custom instead of assuming.
• Secular Israelis: in Israel these days coincide with school vacation, and many families travel or gather. The rhythm of these days therefore depends a great deal on the circle.

2What it changes when you set the date

• Wedding: weddings are not held during Chol HaMoed. The Shulchan Arukh (Orach Chayim 546:1) rules it out; it does permit betrothal, while regulating the engagement meal (not in the fiancée’s home at the time of the betrothal) and addressing dancing. A wedding date that falls in Chol HaMoed therefore calls for explicit confirmation.
• Other celebrations (henna, bar or bat mitzvah, brit, reception): the Shulchan Arukh passage cited here covers only marriage, betrothal, and the engagement meal; for the rest, ask your rabbi what suits your family.
• Shabbat during Chol HaMoed: it keeps its usual Shabbat rules (see the Shabbat entry).
• Exact dates: check a Hebrew calendar to see which days of the year are Chol HaMoed where you live; do not carry them over from one year to the next.

3What observant guests may or may not do

Chol HaMoed is not Shabbat: Maimonides distinguishes forbidden labors from permitted ones (7:1). So do not assume guests will stay off their phones, cars, or cameras, or that they will use them freely: it depends on each person’s rabbi and on the nature of the use. For a professional photographer or caterer, whose activity is work, ask the rabbi.

• Many guests work or travel during these days: announce the date early and state the schedule clearly.
• Say whether the event falls on a Shabbat of Chol HaMoed, in which case the Shabbat rules apply.