The Essential Yom Tov Playbook: What You Can and Can’t Do

Joy and Holiday Gifts

- A person must be joyful on the festival—together with their spouse and everyone at home. So buy your spouse clothing or jewelry, get the kids a holiday gift, and support those in need according to your ability.

- Men should rejoice with meat and wine. The primary obligation is with beef; if you can’t get beef or don’t enjoy it, eat poultry and drink wine.

Quick Primer

- The Gemara says: "There is no difference between Yom Tov and Shabbat except for ochel nefesh (food preparation)." In other words, Yom Tov is identical to Shabbatexcept for ochel nefesh. That means the same prohibitions apply—both Torah-level and rabbinic—just like on Shabbat, but actions needed for food may be done on Yom Tov. Still, not every type of labor is permitted for ochel nefesh—details below.

Using an Existing Flame vs. Lighting a New One

- It is forbidden to ignite a new fire on Yom Tov.

- If someone mistakenly lit a new fire on Yom Tov, although it was forbidden, one may still benefit from that fire.

- Transferring an existing flame—from place to place using a candle, match, etc.—is permitted.

Putting Out Flames on Yom Tov and the "Hagaz" Timer

- Extinguishing a fire on Yom Tov is forbidden.

- Therefore, when you finish cooking on a gas burner, you may not simply turn it off. Instead, place a finjan with water or coffee so it boils over and puts out the flame; after it is out, turn the gas knob to the off position. Use the boiled water for coffee or tea so the cooking serves ochel nefesh.

- Similarly, if you lit a match (from an existing flame), do not extinguish it; let it die out on its own. The same applies to a cigarette.

- Lowering the gas flame is generally considered extinguishing and is forbidden.

- However, you may lower the flame if there is a real concern that the dish will burn, since that is for ochel nefesh.

- Today there is a gas timer that works like a Shabbat timer and turns off the gas by itself; this device is called "Hagaz"—highly recommended!

Cooking on Yom Tov

- You may cook on Yom Tov for that day’s needs only.

- Cooking from one Yom Tov day to the next when they are back-to-back is forbidden; an eruv tavshilin does not help for this.

- Cooking on Yom Tov for Shabbat is forbidden unless an eruv tavshilin was prepared beforehand.

Graters and Zesters

- Using a grater or zester on Yom Tov is permitted.

Squeezing

- You may squeeze lemons only (for food use). Squeezing other fruits is forbidden.

Showering

- Showering is permitted, even with hot water (this is forbidden on Shabbat).

Muktzeh

- All muktzeh rules apply on Yom Tov just like on Shabbat, and in some respects are even stricter. Our Sages were stricter about muktzeh on Yom Tov because people might treat the day more lightly; they made safeguards so the sanctity of Yom Tov would not be degraded.

- On Shabbat, fruit peels and bones that animals could eat are not muktzeh. On Yom Tov, however, those peels and bones are muktzeh. You may not move them directly by hand. The workaround: place them in a utensil with a bit of food, then move the utensil with the peels inside—you are moving the utensil, not the peels.

- You may move muktzeh items for the sake of ochel nefesh. Therefore, if stones or a wallet with money were placed on top of fruit or food, you may lift the stone or wallet to access the food.

- It is permitted to move matches.

Ice

 - You may freeze ice or break it.

Soda Water

- You may make soda water.

Carrying Between Domains

- Carrying from one domain to another on Yom Tov is permitted (this is forbidden on Shabbat unless there is an eruv).

Medicine on Yom Tov

- Any medical activity forbidden on Shabbat is also forbidden on Yom Tov.

- However, someone with discomfort or pain in any part of the body—a headache, toothache, etc.—may take a pain-relief pill.

Shabbat Timer

- You may set a Shabbat timer for any electrical appliance (e.g., oven for baking, hot plate, etc.) before the holiday begins—that is, prior to Yom Tov, not on Yom Tov itself.

Smoking on Yom Tov

- Someone who is accustomed to smoking may smoke cigarettes on Yom Tov, as this is considered for ochel nefesh needs.

- Someone who does not usually smoke and wants to smoke on Yom Tov, and would not be distressed if they didn’t smoke, should avoid smoking on Yom Tov.

- Smoking a nargila on Yom Tov is also permitted (for one who is accustomed).

A Fire for Warmth

- If it’s cold, you may light a fire on Yom Tov and warm yourself by it, since this counts as ochel nefesh needs (of course, light it from an existing flame by transferring fire—do not create a new flame)

Lighting Yom Tov Candles

- It is a mitzvah to light candles on the night of Yom Tov, before the holiday begins.

- Before lighting, recite the blessing: "Baruch Atah Hashem... lehadlik ner shel Yom Tov"

- If Yom Tov falls on Shabbat, light for both Shabbat and Yom Tov, and before lighting say:

    "Baruch Atah Hashem... lehadlik ner shel Shabbat v’Yom Tov"

- A woman should not recite Shehecheyanu at candle lighting, since we say Shehecheyanu in Kiddush.