Introduction — The Mitzvot of Yom Tov
There are 12 commandments related to Yom Tov:
Positive commandments (6):
- Rest on each festival day
Negative commandments (6):
- Do not perform forbidden work on each festival day
These apply to:
- Pesach (1st & 7th days)
- Shavuot
- Rosh Hashanah
- Sukkot (1st & 8th days)
Halachah 1 — What Defines a Holiday
On all Yom Tov days:
- Forbidden: servile labor
- Permitted: labor needed for food preparation
Source principle:
“Only that which is eaten may be done”
Halachah 2 — Resting and Violations
If a person refrains from work:
- He fulfills a positive mitzvah
If he performs forbidden labor:
- Violates a positive and negative commandment
Punishment:
- Lashes (if done with warning)
Halachah 3 — No Separate Categories Like Shabbat
On Shabbat:
- Each type of work = separate liability
On Yom Tov:
- Multiple labors → only one set of lashes
Halachah 4 — Major Exception: Carrying & Fire
Unlike Shabbat:
These are more lenient on Yom Tov:
- Carrying objects
- Kindling fire
Why?
Because they are allowed for food → extended to general use
So you may:
- Carry a child
- Move items
- Light fire even not for food
Halachah 5 — Work That Could Be Done Before
If food-related work could have been done before Yom Tov without loss:
→ It is rabbinically forbidden on Yom Tov
Reason:
To prevent:
- Spending the entire holiday working
- Losing the joy of Yom Tov
Halachah 6 — Why Carrying Is Allowed Freely
Even though carrying could be done before:
→ Sages allowed it fully
Reason:
To increase joy:
- So people can move freely
- Bring what they need
- Not feel restricted
Halachah 7 — Large-Scale Food Production Is Forbidden
Even for food, these are forbidden:
- Harvesting
- Threshing
- Grinding
- Sifting
Why?
Because:
- These are bulk/industrial activities
- Should be done beforehand
Halachah 8 — Fresh Food Is Allowed
Permitted on Yom Tov:
- Cooking
- Baking
- Slaughtering
- Kneading
Reason:
Fresh food is better:
- Same-day preparation improves taste
Halachah 9 — No Preparing for Weekdays
It is forbidden to cook or bake:
→ For after the holiday
But:
If food remains:
- It may be eaten later
Halachah 10 — Cooking in Larger Quantities
Permitted to cook more than needed if:
- It improves quality
- It benefits the current meal
Examples:
- Filling entire pot
- Baking full oven
- Salting multiple pieces
Halachah 11 — Trickery Is Forbidden
If someone cooks “for today” but really intends for later:
→ This is forbidden
Even if technically allowed:
- Intent matters
Halachah 12 — Slaughtering an Animal
You may slaughter an animal:
✅ Only if:
- You will eat at least a small amount that day
Otherwise: → Forbidden (since it becomes weekday preparation)
Halachah 13 — Cooking for Non-Jews
You may NOT cook specifically for:
- Non-Jews
- Animals
However:
- If a non-Jew shows up → may share food already prepared
Halachah 14 — Shared Ownership Cases
Animal shared with non-Jew:
✅ Allowed to slaughter
(because you cannot separate your portion)
Dough shared:
❌ Forbidden to bake
(because it can be divided beforehand)
Halachah 15 — Indirect Cooking for Others
If cooking could potentially serve guests:
→ No lashes are given
Because:
- It could theoretically be for Yom Tov use
Halachah 16 — Washing and Anointing
Allowed on Yom Tov (unlike Yom Kippur):
- Washing parts of the body
- Anointing
But:
- Full-body bathing (heated on Yom Tov) → forbidden
- Pre-heated water → allowed
Halachah 17 — Rabbinic Restrictions Still Apply
All rabbinic safeguards (shvut) still apply:
Unless:
- Needed for food
- Or similar permitted needs
Halachah 18 — Muktzeh Is Stricter on Yom Tov
Surprising rule:
➡️ Muktzeh applies more strictly on Yom Tov than Shabbat
Reason:
Because Yom Tov is more lenient overall → added restriction
Halachah 19 — Preparing Food Between Days
Rules:
- Weekday → Yom Tov ✅
- Yom Tov → Shabbat ❌
- Shabbat → Yom Tov ❌
Example:
- Egg laid on Yom Tov → forbidden
Halachah 20 — Egg Rules (Classic Case)
An egg laid on Yom Tov:
- May NOT be eaten
- Even if mixed with many others
Because:
- It will become permitted later → never nullified
Halachah 21–22 — Two-Day Yom Tov
In the Diaspora:
- 2 days observed
- Second day = Rabbinic
But: ➡️ Laws are the same as the first day
Halachah 23 — Burial Exception
On Yom Tov:
- Day 1 → non-Jews perform burial
- Day 2 → Jews may perform burial
Even:
- Full burial preparations allowed
Halachah 24 — Second Day Is Separate
Diaspora holidays:
➡️ Two separate holiness days
Therefore:
- Something forbidden Day 1 → may be allowed Day 2
Exception:
Rosh Hashanah = one long day