Mitzvah —
97
Not to do prohibited labor on the first day of Passover
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וּבַיּ֤וֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן֙ מִקְרָא־קֹ֔דֶשׁ וּבַיּוֹם֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔י מִקְרָא־קֹ֖דֶשׁ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֑ם כׇּל־מְלָאכָה֙ לֹא־יֵעָשֶׂ֣ה בָהֶ֔ם אַ֚ךְ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֵאָכֵ֣ל לְכׇל־נֶ֔פֶשׁ ה֥וּא לְבַדּ֖וֹ יֵעָשֶׂ֥ה לָכֶֽם׃ - פָּרָשַׁת בֹּא
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Exodus 12:16 - "And on the first day there shall be a holy convocation, and on the seventh day you shall have a holy convocation; no work may be performed on them, but what is eaten by any soul that alone may be performed for you."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Holidays – חֲגִים
It is forbidden to engage in creative work — with the exception of work needed for food purposes — on the fifteenth of Nissan, the First Day of Passover.
This mitzvah forbids performing laborious work (melachet avodah) on the first day of Passover. Unlike Shabbat, where all creative labor is prohibited, on Yom Tov certain labors related to food preparation are permitted. The restriction ensures that the day is elevated as sacred, free from mundane toil, and focused on celebrating the beginning of Israel’s redemption from Egypt.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Yom Tov 1:2): Prohibits all forms of labor on Yom Tov except those directly tied to preparing food.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 323): The root is to commemorate the miracles of the Exodus by resting from weekday work, thereby setting the day apart for holiness.
- Talmud (Pesachim 6a): Distinguishes between the prohibitions of Shabbat and Yom Tov, allowing limited work for festival needs.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
