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Besides Shabbat, there are other days when the Torah requires us to rest – the festivals, or Jewish holidays. That is when we refrain from the type of melakha known as melekhet avoda (section 12 below). We study Torah, rejoice with our families, and thank God for all the good He has bestowed upon us. A festival (ĥag) is also called an appointed time (mo’ed). The term “mo’ed” indicates a time as well as a meeting, as the festivals are times designated for sanctity and memory, and are also days on which Jews meet up. These are the festivals:
The Three Pilgrimage Festivals
- Passover, from the 15th of Nissan to the 21st (22nd in the diaspora). See Chapters 30-31 below.
- Shavuot, on the 6th of Sivan (and the 7th in the diaspora), after completing the Omer count. See Chapters 32-33 below.
- Sukkot and Shmini Atzeret, from the 15th of Tishrei to the 22nd (23rd in the diaspora). See Chapter 36 below.
The pilgrimage festivals are called regalim (literally feet), as they included a mitzva to ascend to the Temple in Jerusalem, with the last part of the journey being accomplished on foot (regel).
Passover and Sukkot include two types of days. The first day and the last day (the first two and last two days in the diaspora) are called Yom Tov (literally “Good Day”). The days in between are called Ĥol Ha-mo’ed (the Intermediate Days). On Yom Tov, most melakha is prohibited (section 12 below), while on Ĥol Ha-mo’ed there are more circumstances in which melakha is permitted (sections 19-20 below).
The High Holy Days
Rosh Ha-shana (Chapter 34 below) is on the 1st and 2nd of Tishrei. It is a festival and therefore there is a mitzva to eat festive meals. In contrast, Yom Kippur (the 10th of Tishrei) is a sacred and special day, but it is not included among the festivals because it is a fast day. Additionally, its melakha prohibition is the same as on Shabbat (Chapter 35 below).
