Yom Tov and Chol Hamoed

There are different levels of holiness in Jewish holidays.

Yom Tov is almost like Shabbos and most of the prohibitions of Shabbos apply, with two exceptions:

1. We may put food to cook for that day (but not for the following night or next day) onto a fire that was left on from before Yom Tov, unlike on Shabbos when we may not put food to cook or heat up even on a hot plate that was plugged in before Shabbos. (Consult your Orthodox rabbi for details.) Included in this is that on Yom Tov we may light a candle from another candle that was lit before Yom Tov (but we may not strike a match to light a new flame). We light a Yahrtzeit candle before Yom Tov, and on the second night of Yom Tov – after nightfall when it is completely dark outside – we use the Yahrtzeit candle to light the Yom Tov candles.
2. On Yom Tov we may carry items needed for that day in the public domain, which we may not do on Shabbos.

Chol Hamoed is the intermediate days of Sukkos and Pesach. On Chol Hamoed we are allowed to drive and use electricity, but we may not take haircuts or do laundry and we avoid unnecessary writing, among other things – consult your Orthodox rabbi.. We honor the holiday by wearing nice clothing. Men should drink wine.

Here are the days of Yom Tov and Chol Hamoed this Sukkos-Simchas Torah:

• Yom Tov: Monday evening, Oct. 6 through Wednesday night, Oct. 8.
• Chol Hamoed: Thursday, Oct. 9 through Monday, Oct. 13 (but on Monday night Yom Tov begins again). Of course, Shabbos on Friday evening, Oct. 10 through Saturday night, Oct. 11 is observed like any other Shabbos. It is called “Shabbos Chol Hamoed”.
• Yom Tov: Monday evening, Oct. 13 through Wednesday night, Oct. 15.