Chol HaMoed: What Work Is Permitted?

Is Chol HaMoed a holiday or a regular day? The answer is: neither, and that is exactly what makes it unique. Chol HaMoed (literally, the weekday of the festival) refers to the intermediate days between the first and last Yom Tov days of Sukkot and Passover. These days have a special semi-holy status that affects what activities are permitted.

The Basic Principle

Chol HaMoed is not a full Yom Tov (holiday). Many of the restrictions that apply on Shabbat and Yom Tov do not apply. You may drive, use electricity, cook, and handle money. However, Chol HaMoed is also not an ordinary weekday. It retains a festive character, and certain types of work are restricted to preserve the holiday atmosphere.

The general principle is that work which is necessary for the holiday, prevents financial loss, or cannot be postponed without significant consequence is permitted. Work that could have been done before the holiday or can wait until after is restricted.

What Is Permitted

Holiday needs: Any work necessary for the holiday itself is permitted. Cooking, setting the table, cleaning, grocery shopping for holiday meals, and similar tasks are all allowed.

Preventing loss: Work necessary to prevent financial loss is permitted. If a pipe bursts, you may call a plumber. If your business would suffer irreparable harm from being closed, you may work. The key factor is whether the loss would be significant and whether the work could have been done before the holiday.

Simple, unskilled work: Activities that do not require professional skill are generally more lenient. Watering a garden to prevent plants from dying, basic home maintenance, and routine tasks that maintain the status quo are typically permitted.

Public needs: Work that serves the community or the public good is permitted. This includes medical care, emergency services, and essential public functions.

What Is Restricted

Regular professional work: Going to your regular job or running your business as usual is generally restricted, unless closing would cause significant financial loss. The idea is that Chol HaMoed should be spent enjoying the holiday, being with family, and focusing on the festival's themes.

Skilled labor: Professional-level craftsmanship, sewing, writing (in certain contexts), and similar skilled work are restricted unless they are for holiday needs or to prevent loss.

Laundry: Doing laundry is generally prohibited on Chol HaMoed. The reason: if laundry were permitted during Chol HaMoed, people would postpone it and enter the holiday wearing dirty clothes, diminishing the honor of Yom Tov. Exceptions include children's clothing (which gets dirty quickly), undergarments if you have run out of clean ones, and towels and similar items needed for the holiday.

Haircuts and shaving: Getting a haircut is generally prohibited on Chol HaMoed, for the same reason as laundry: to encourage people to groom before the holiday begins. Shaving is a matter of debate; many authorities permit it, especially for those who shave daily.

Modern Considerations

Many modern work situations create complex questions about Chol HaMoed. If missing work would result in losing your job, most authorities would permit working. If you are self-employed and your clients cannot wait, the situation requires individual evaluation. Students who would miss important exams or fall irrecoverably behind may attend school. The guiding principle is always: what is genuinely necessary versus what is merely convenient?

The Spirit of Chol HaMoed

Beyond the specific rules, Chol HaMoed has a festive character. Special prayers are recited, including Hallel and Musaf. On Sukkot, we continue to eat in the sukkah and take the four species. Many families use Chol HaMoed for outings, trips, and family activities that enhance the joy of the holiday. In Israel, Chol HaMoed is a popular time for hiking, visiting parks, and enjoying the beautiful weather.

The ideal Chol HaMoed day includes festive meals, time in the sukkah (on Sukkot), family togetherness, Torah learning, and activities that celebrate the holiday. It is a gift of semi-holiday time, a chance to experience the joy of the festival without the full restrictions of Yom Tov.

For more on the holidays, see our guides to Sukkot, Passover, and the Jewish holiday cycle.