Men do not fulfill their obligation to rejoice on the festival except through drinking a revi’it of wine each day of Yom Tov, including Chol HaMoed.
The Rebbe Rayatz would drink a revi’it of wine at every meal. On Chol HaMoed, one is not obligated to eat bread, but it is preferable to do so. It is a mitzvah to eat meat to rejoice in the festival.
Many activities are prohibited during Chol HaMoed. For example: business activity; sewing; washing clothes (with the exception of clothing of very young children who soil their clothing regularly); writing (if it is required for Chol HaMoed, it is permitted, but it is customary to make a minor shinui [change from the ordinary manner of writing]); printing; cutting nails; and taking haircuts. The purpose of prohibiting work during Chol HaMoed is to ensure that the people will use the time to eat, drink, and rejoice in the festival, and toil in Torah (Talmud Yerushalmi).
Rav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, member of the Badatz of Crown Heights, www.crownheightsconnect.com
