Yom Tov

Yom Tov (“good day”) refers to the Torah’s festival days on which all work stops. Maimonides counts six: the first and seventh days of Passover, the first and eighth days of Sukkot, Shavuot, and Rosh Hashanah (Laws of Rest on a Holiday 1:1). The Torah calls them a “sacred occasion” on which you shall not do your usual work (Leviticus 23:7). Yom Kippur is also a day of rest from work, but its own rules, starting with the fast, are not the same as those of a Yom Tov: ask your rabbi.

The major difference from Shabbat, in the Torah itself: on Yom Tov, preparing food is allowed. “Only what every person is to eat, that alone may be prepared for you” (Exodus 12:16). That does not mean everything is permitted; where that exception stops is a question for each person’s rabbi.

1A day of joy, not an ordinary day

The Shulchan Arukh asks that Yom Tov be honored and enjoyed like Shabbat, without skimping on expense: a meal with wine, two loaves, festive clothing (Orach Chayim 529:1). One does not marry on Yom Tov, and certain festive gestures are set aside; the same text (Orach Chayim 524:1) lists, among others, betrothal, marriage, dancing, and clapping.

2Across communities

• In the diaspora, several of these festivals last two days; in Israel, one. The same date can be open in Tel Aviv and closed in New York: what counts is where the event is held.
• Sephardic, Ashkenazi, and Mizrahi families: the meals, melodies, and liturgy of each festival differ. Ask your own family’s custom instead of presuming.
• Secular Israelis: many families gather for the festival meal without keeping every rule of the day; observance varies from one family to the next and from one guest to the next.

3What it changes when you set the date

• Wedding, engagement, dancing: the Shulchan Arukh (Orach Chayim 524:1) puts them among the things set aside on Yom Tov. A wedding date that falls on Yom Tov calls for explicit confirmation.
• The evening before: like Shabbat, the festival begins the evening before; a reception planned that evening already falls within the festival day.
• Yom Tov and Shabbat can run back to back: in that case, ask your rabbi for the end time rather than working it out.
• One day or two: check whether your venue’s community keeps one or two days before you book.

4What observant guests may or may not do

Do not assume guests will act as they would on Shabbat: Yom Tov has its own rules, with the exception for food (Exodus 12:16). For phones, cars, photos, lighting, or a sound system, the answer depends on each person’s rabbi. Many observant guests refrain from them just as they do on Shabbat; that is a custom, not a rule to announce on their behalf.

• Set a reply deadline before the festival: observant guests do not answer by phone that day.
• Do not promise a photographer or music without the venue rabbi’s approval.
• Give the walking distance from the synagogue or from lodging.