Chol Hamoed
| Halakhic texts relating to this article | |
|---|---|
| Mishneh Torah: | Hilkhot Shevitat Yom Tov 6:22–24, 7, and 8. |
| Shulchan Aruch: | Orach Chaim 530–548. The original and a are available online. |
| Other rabbinic codes: | Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 104, 105, and 106. |
Chol HaMoed (Hebrew: חול המועד), a Hebrew phrase meaning "weekdays [of] the festival" (literal translationד: "the secular [non-holy] (part of) the occasion" or "application of the occasion"), refers to the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkot. As the name implies, these days mix features of "chol" (weekday or secular) and "moed" (festival).
On Passover, Chol HaMoed consists of the second through sixth days of the holiday (third through sixth in the Diaspora). On Sukkot, Chol HaMoed consists of the second through seventh days (third through seventh in the Diaspora).
Although it has a unique name, Hoshanah Rabbah, the seventh day of Sukkot, is part of Chol HaMoed. Prayer services that day combine some usual practices of Chol HaMoed with practices of both Yom Tov and the High Holy Days.
Chol HaMoed combines features of weekday (Chol) and festival (Moed).
Work. On weekdays during Chol HaMoed the usual restrictions that apply to the Biblical Jewish holidays are relaxed, but not entirely eliminated. For example, work that would normally be prohibited on the festival would be allowed to prevent financial loss or if the results of the work are needed for the festival itself. Work for public need is also allowed. If one has the ability to take vacation from work without financial loss during those days, he or she is normally required to do so. Many tasks such as laundry washing, hair cutting and shaving are to be avoided except in some circumstances.
Prayers. Prayers on weekdays during Chol HaMoed are based on the weekday order of prayers, not the festival order of prayers.
The principal customs of the respective festivals continue throughout the festival:
Ya'aleh v'Yavo is added to the Amidah and Birkat HaMazon on these days. Hallel and Mussaf prayers are said on these days, as on Yom Tov, although on Chol Hamoed of Passover, an abridged form of Hallel is recited. Hoshanot are recited on Sukkot. The tachanun prayer is omitted.
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