Can You Do Laundry or Work on Chol HaMoed? 12 Halachot to Know

Chol HaMoed, literally “the weekdays of the festival,” refers to the intermediate days of Sukkot and Passover that fall between the opening and closing days of Yom Tov. Although these days have fewer restrictions than Yom Tov, they still have a special festive status and their own halachot.

The days of Chol HaMoed are meant to be honored and enjoyed, but certain types of work are prohibited. Other forms of work may be permitted for the needs of the holiday, to prevent a financial loss, or for the benefit of the public.

Can you do laundry? Go to work? Repair your car? Write on a computer?

Here are 12 practical guidelines for Chol HaMoed, based on the rulings of Yalkut Yosef.

1. Honoring and Enjoying Chol HaMoed

The mitzvah of rejoicing on a festival applies during Chol HaMoed as well. The intermediate days should therefore be honored with good food, drink, and clean clothing.

It is customary to wear Shabbat clothing during Chol HaMoed. There is also a custom to keep a tablecloth spread over the table throughout Chol HaMoed, as one would on Yom Tov.

2. Can You Do Laundry or Iron?

Laundry is generally prohibited during Chol HaMoed, even if the clothing is needed for the holiday. The sages established this prohibition so that people would not deliberately postpone their laundry until Chol HaMoed and enter the festival with unclean clothing.

There are, however, exceptions:

• Someone who has only one garment may wash it.
• Clothing and diapers belonging to babies and young children who regularly soil them may be washed as needed. The practice is to be lenient with children's clothing up to approximately age three when necessary.
• When washing clothing for young children in a washing machine, adult clothing should not be added to the load.

Unlike washing, ironing clothing with a hot iron is permitted during Chol HaMoed. It is also permitted to brush dust from clothing and hats and to polish shoes for the holiday.

3. Writing and Typing on a Computer

As a general rule, writing is prohibited during Chol HaMoed, although there are important exceptions.

It is permitted to write down Torah insights, whether they are your own or something you heard from someone else, when there is a concern that they may otherwise be forgotten. This is considered a davar ha’aved, something that could be lost.

A personal letter may also be written. Similarly, a computer may be used to type something that is itself permitted to be written, such as Torah insights or a personal letter. The fact that something is being typed rather than handwritten does not automatically make otherwise prohibited writing permissible.

Accounts and expenses may be recorded when necessary for the holiday or when there is a genuine concern that the information will be forgotten. Merchants, however, should not use Chol HaMoed to organize or summarize non-urgent business accounts.

4. Can You Go to Work on Chol HaMoed?

A permanent employee who reasonably fears losing their job if they do not work during Chol HaMoed, and who cannot take vacation days, may work because the situation is considered a davar ha’aved.

A business owner who would be required to pay employees their full salaries even if the business closed during Chol HaMoed may, under certain circumstances, be permitted to remain open. When possible, the work should be carried out discreetly.

Someone who does not have enough money to cover their household's holiday needs may also work to provide for those needs, preferably as discreetly as possible.

A mail carrier may continue working because delivering mail is considered a public need. Someone providing childcare may also receive payment for their work.

The halacha can depend heavily on the circumstances, so individual questions about employment should be discussed with a qualified rabbi.

5. Haircuts and Moving Homes

Haircuts are prohibited during Chol HaMoed.

Moving from one rented home to another rented home, or from one owned home to another owned home, is also prohibited.

It is permitted, however, to move from a rented home into a home that you own, because doing so brings particular joy.

An apartment may also be rented out and a lease signed during Chol HaMoed, particularly when postponing the agreement until after the holiday could result in losing the opportunity.

6. What If Your Car or Glasses Need Repair?

A simple car repair that does not require professional expertise may be performed, even when the car is needed for a trip. It is also permitted to clean a car and improve its appearance when doing so does not require excessive effort.

Professional repairs to a private vehicle are generally prohibited when another reasonable option is available. A mechanic may, however, repair buses, taxis, and trucks that serve the public or transport food.

Eyeglasses that break during Chol HaMoed may be repaired, even by a professional.

Torn shoes generally should not be taken to a professional for repair. If they are likely to tear further and the person needs them, there are opinions permitting the repair because it may qualify as a davar ha’aved. Buying new shoes during Chol HaMoed is permitted.

Because the ruling can depend on the precise circumstances, a rabbi should be consulted when necessary.

7. Shopping and Doing Business

Ordinary business activity that is not needed for the holiday is prohibited during Chol HaMoed. Merchandise should therefore not be bought and sold for commercial purposes in the usual manner.

When there is a genuine risk of losing the principal investment, selling merchandise may be permitted. The loss of potential future profit alone is generally not considered a davar ha’aved. However, someone who needs the profit to increase their holiday expenses may, in certain circumstances, be permitted to sell.

Stores selling vegetables and other perishable products may operate openly because it is clear that these items are being purchased for the holiday. Products that will keep beyond the festival should be sold more discreetly. On the eve of the final day of Yom Tov, selling openly for the needs of the holiday is permitted.

Questions involving business or financial loss should be discussed with a qualified rabbi.

8. Can You Sew a Torn Garment?

Someone who is not a professional tailor may repair a torn garment using simple stitching.

A professional tailor who needs to repair their own clothing should sew it in an unusual manner, using wide, uneven stitches so that the repair does not resemble professional work.

9. Tefillin and Ya’aleh Veyavo

According to the rulings presented here, tefillin are not worn during Chol HaMoed.

Someone who forgot Ya’aleh Veyavo in Birkat Hamazon during Chol HaMoed or Rosh Chodesh and remembered only after beginning the blessing of Hatov Vehameitiv does not repeat Birkat Hamazon.

The text of Ya’aleh Veyavo may instead be included among the Harachaman requests, without concern about mentioning Hashem’s name in vain.

10. Photography and Recording

Taking photographs and making recordings are permitted during Chol HaMoed.

Printing or developing photographs, however, should be postponed until after the holiday.

11. Visiting Jerusalem and Playing Music

There is a mitzvah to visit Jerusalem during Chol HaMoed even today. Although the pilgrimage to Jerusalem in the absence of the Beit Hamikdash is not a Torah obligation, visiting the city during the festival remains a practice of great value.

It is also permitted to play musical instruments during Chol HaMoed and enjoy music as part of the joy of the holiday.

12. Public Needs and Work Performed by a Non-Jew

Work necessary for the public may be performed during Chol HaMoed. Examples include repairing roads, removing hazards, and repairing public transportation services.

In a community without a mikveh, work may be done toward building one because it is considered an important public need.

Work that a Jew may not perform during Chol HaMoed generally may not simply be given to a non-Jew to perform instead. There are, however, circumstances in which leniencies apply, including certain cases involving a mitzvah, a public need, or work contracted to a non-Jew under specific conditions established before the holiday.

The laws of Chol HaMoed contain many details, and seemingly small differences between situations can affect the halacha. When a question involves employment, significant financial loss, business activity, or professional repairs, a qualified rabbi should be consulted.

Making Chol HaMoed Feel Different

Ultimately, the laws of Chol HaMoed remind us that these are not simply ordinary weekdays tucked between the first and last days of Yom Tov. They are part of the festival itself: days to step away from the usual rush where possible, spend time with family, enjoy the holiday, and make room for the things that give these days their special character.

Knowing what can wait until after the holiday, and what genuinely needs to be done now, helps us preserve the unique atmosphere of Chol HaMoed and experience it as more than just another weekday.