Laws of Yom Tov

Note: For the purposes of this article, "Yom Tov" refers to the following biblical holidays: Rosh Hashanah, first two1 days of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah, first two and last two days of Passover, and both days of Shavuot. See our Holidays section for more information on these holidays.

Rejoicing

The primary obligation of Yom Tov is expressed in the Torah:2 "And you shall rejoice in your festival...and you shall only be happy."3 This biblical obligation to rejoice is exclusive to Yom Tov—on Shabbat we are only required to honor the day and engage in pleasurable activities.

Here are the basic Yom Tov guidelines outlined by our sages:

• We enjoy two meals on every day of Yom Tov—one at night and another during the daytime.4 It is a mitzvah to enjoy meat and wine5 during the course of each meal (the kiddush wine is not enough6).
• It is customary to have a greater variety of food on Yom Tov than on Shabbat. Similarly, the Yom Tov wardrobe is traditionally more elegant than the Shabbat one.
• Men are obligated to purchase for their wives a new piece of clothing or jewelry in honor of Yom Tov. Children should be given sweets or a new toy.
• "When he eats and drinks [on Yom Tov], he is obligated to feed the foreigner, orphan and widow, together with other indigent paupers... One who locks the doors of his courtyard, however, and eats and drinks together with his children and wife, and does not feed and give drink to the poor and embittered—this is not the joy of a mitzvah, but the joy of his stomach..."7

Permitted and Forbidden Activities

The Short Version:

Almost everything that is forbidden on Shabbat is forbidden on Yom Tov. Using electrical appliances, going to work, handling money, writing—are all forbidden. The major differences between the two are cooking and baking, lighting a fire from a pre-existing flame, and carrying in the public domain. All these are permitted – albeit with certain restrictions that will be outlined below – on Yom Tov.

The Long Version:

The laws of Yom Tov are almost the same as the laws of Shabbat—with one major exception: on Yom Tov it is permissible to do many activities necessary for food preparation. This includes activities that are prohibited on Shabbat such as kneading, baking, and cooking. In the words of the Torah: "No work shall be done on [Yom Tov], but what is eaten by any soul, that alone may be performed for you."8 Using electrical appliances is still forbidden for reasons that will be explained later on.

In addition, the sages taught that "since these labors are permissible for the purpose [of preparing food], they are also permissible for [other] purposes."

Thus lighting fires is (biblically) permissible, as is carrying in the public domain, even if these activities have nothing to do with food preparation—because these activities can also facilitate food preparation.

Exceptions:

• While it is permissible to do activities even if the purpose is not food-preparation related, there still must be some constructive purpose. Thus, carrying, for example, if done for no reason, is forbidden. One wishing to take a baby for a walk in a stroller should check to make sure there is nothing unnecessary in the stroller's basket.
• Food preparation is permissible only if the food is intended for that day—not for afterwards, not even for the next day of Yom Tov.9 Thus one must be careful to wait until nighttime before heating up food for the evening meal of the second night of Yom Tov.10 Nevertheless, it is permissible to prepare a large quantity with the intention of eating the leftovers on the following day—provided that all the food is being prepared and cooked in one utensil.
  Similarly, carrying in the public domain is permitted only if it somehow conveys benefit for that day. It would be forbidden to carry a house key to the synagogue in the afternoon in order to be able to enter the house that night.
• The sages forbade doing any activity on Yom Tov if it could have been done before Yom Tov—with no adverse affect on the quality of the food.11 Since most foods would lose freshness if prepared before Yom Tov, it is permitted to bake and cook most food items on Yom Tov. Examples of activities that can be done before Yom Tov without any adverse effects: making cheese or butter, chopping wood for a fire, cooking fruit preserves, trapping an animal for slaughter, fishing or sifting flour.
  For this reason, we may only light a fire from a pre-existing flame.12 Kindling a new flame, by striking a match for example, is still forbidden13—it could be done before Yom Tov.14
  Carrying in the public domain is an exception to this rule—it is permitted to carry something on Yom Tov even if it could have been done beforehand. This exception was put in place in order to increase the joy of Yom Tov, "untie the person's hands", and allow him to transport objects as he wishes.
• While it is permitted to prepare food on Yom Tov, it is not permitted to prepare food implements. Thus, sharpening a knife on Yom Tov is not allowed. Such activity is only allowed if it was not possible to do so before Yom Tov (whether due to the fact that one was unaware that it needed to be done beforehand, or because of a situation that arose on Yom Tov itself).

The laws of Yom Tov are complex and detailed. The following covers only the more common applications of Yom Tov law.

Extinguishing Fire

Extinguishing a fire is forbidden.15 For this reason, it is permissible to turn the flame up but not down on the stove.16 On most electric stove-tops, raising the temperature "ignites" a current in an additional coil, which would be the equivalent of igniting a new flame, and therefore even raising the flame is prohibited. Modern-day halachic authorities debate whether it is permitted to lower the flame on the stove for the purpose of preventing the food from burning, or to allow it to cook properly. Most allow it, while others say that you should remove the food from the flame, light another burner and place the food upon it.

Muktzeh

Objects that may not be used on Shabbat are called "muktzeh." Such objects may not be handled or moved on Shabbat. Common examples are pens, wallets, candlesticks, and matches. The rules of muktzeh apply to Yom Tov as well, with the obvious exception of objects that serve a function that is forbidden on Shabbat but permitted on Yom Tov. Thus, transporting candlesticks, or even a lit candle, is forbidden on Shabbat but allowed on Yom Tov.

Electricity

Using electricity, whether turning a light or electrical appliance on or off, is forbidden.17

Hot Water

Heating water is a form of cooking. Using the hot water tap is prohibited on Shabbat because it causes cold water to enter the heating tank and become "cooked." On Yom Tov, it is permissible use the hot water tap to wash dishes, hands, or any other part of the body. Bathing or showering the entire body in hot water remains forbidden.

Squeezing

Squeezing fruit to extract their juice is forbidden on Yom Tov just as it is on Shabbat (see Food Preparation on Shabbat).18