Chol HaMoed facts for kids

Chol HaMoed (Hebrew: חול המועד) is a Hebrew phrase that means "mundane of the festival." It refers to the middle days of the Jewish holidays of Passover and Sukkot. These days are special because they are a mix of regular weekdays (called chol) and full holidays (called moed).

On Passover, Chol HaMoed includes the second through sixth days of the holiday in Israel. In other countries, it's the third through sixth days. For Sukkot, Chol HaMoed is the second through seventh days in Israel, and the third through seventh days elsewhere.

The seventh day of Sukkot, called Hoshana Rabbah, is also part of Chol HaMoed. On this day, some prayers are like those of Chol HaMoed, but others are similar to major holidays or even the High Holy Days.

What is Chol HaMoed?

Chol HaMoed combines parts of a regular weekday (Chol) with parts of a festival (Moed). This means some activities are allowed, while others are not.

Weekday Rules (Chol)

During Chol HaMoed, some rules about work are relaxed compared to a full holiday. However, they are not completely gone.

Work and Activities

• Work that is usually forbidden on a holiday might be allowed if it prevents a big financial loss.
• Work is also allowed if its results are needed for the holiday itself.
• Work for public needs, like keeping essential services running, is also permitted.
• If you can take time off work without losing money, you should usually do so.
• Many everyday tasks, like doing laundry, getting a haircut, or shaving, should be avoided unless there's a special reason.

Daily Prayers

Prayers during Chol HaMoed are mostly like regular weekday prayers. They are not the special festival prayers.

Festival Rules (Moed)

Even though some work is allowed, the main customs of the holidays continue throughout Chol HaMoed.

Passover Customs

• You must continue to eat matzo (unleavened bread).
• You must avoid chametz (leavened products).

Sukkot Customs

• You should continue to dwell in the sukkah (a temporary hut).
• You should use the Four Species (a special set of plants) every day, except on the Sabbath.

Special Prayers

• The Ya'aleh v'Yavo prayer is added to the Amidah (the main standing prayer) and Birkat HaMazon (Grace After Meals).
• Hallel (a prayer of praise) and Mussaf (an additional prayer) are said, just like on full holidays.
• On Passover Chol HaMoed, a shorter version of Hallel is recited.
• On Sukkot, Hoshanot (special prayers with the Four Species) are recited.
• The tachanun prayer (a prayer of supplication) is skipped.

Torah Reading

In the synagogue, there are four aliyot (times when people are called to read from the Torah). This is more than the usual three on a weekday, showing the festive nature of Chol HaMoed.

Wearing Tefillin

Tefillin are small boxes with Torah scrolls inside, worn on the arm and head during weekday prayers. During Chol HaMoed, there are different customs about wearing them. This shows the mixed nature of the day.

• Many Ashkenazi Jews and Yemenite Jews wear tefillin, just like on regular weekdays.
• Sephardi Jews, followers of the Vilna Gaon, and most Hasidic Jews do not wear tefillin, treating the day more like a full festival.
• In some Hasidic groups, unmarried men might wear tefillin, but married men usually do not.
• In Israel, fewer people wear tefillin on Chol HaMoed. Those who do often wear them privately before public prayers.

Among those who do wear tefillin, some say the blessings, and some do not. Many who wear them take them off before Hallel out of respect for the festive feeling of Chol HaMoed. On the third day of Passover, some wait until after the Torah reading to remove them, because that reading talks about tefillin.

Shabbos Chol HaMoed

A Shabbos Chol HaMoed (or Shabbat Chol HaMoed) is a Sabbath that happens during Chol HaMoed. It is observed almost exactly like any other Sabbath. This means all the usual Sabbath rules about not working apply fully.

However, Shabbos Chol HaMoed is different from a regular Sabbath in a few ways:

Prayers on Shabbos Chol HaMoed

• In many communities, the Kabbalat Shabbat (Friday night prayers) are shorter.
• Ya'aleh v'Yavo is added to the prayers, just like on other Chol HaMoed days.
• Hallel is recited, as it is throughout Chol HaMoed.
• Ashkenazi Jews read the Song of Songs on Passover or Ecclesiastes on Sukkot.
• The Torah reading has seven aliyot, but the Weekly Torah portion is replaced with special readings for the festival.
• The Mussaf prayer is the one for the festival, with extra parts for the Sabbath.
• On Sukkot, most communities recite Hoshanot (special prayers), but without the Four Species or removing Torah scrolls from the Ark. Some groups, like Chabad, do not say Hoshanot on Shabbat at all.

Meals on Shabbos Chol HaMoed

• On Passover, you eat matzo instead of regular bread.
• On Sukkot, meals are eaten in the sukkah.

Images for kids

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  A friendly robot, representing a kid-friendly resource.

See also

In Spanish: Jol HaMoed para niños