100

To rest on Shavuot

The Luchos - Ten Commandments
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Holidays – חֲגִים

We are commanded to rest on Shavuot, the fiftieth day following the second day of Passover, by abstaining from any creative work, with the exception of work needed for food purposes.

This mitzvah commands that the day of Shavuot be observed as a sacred day of rest. Shavuot commemorates Matan Torah — the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai — the spiritual foundation of the Jewish people. By refraining from laborious work, Jews dedicate the day to celebrating Torah, engaging in study, prayer, and joy. While ordinary work is forbidden, food preparation for the festival is permitted.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

  • Rambam (Hilchot Yom Tov 6:1): Establishes that Shavuot is included in the cycle of festivals with the same obligation to rest as Pesach and Sukkot.
  • Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 326): The root is to honor the Torah, the most precious gift given to Israel, by sanctifying the day through cessation from mundane labor.
  • Talmud (Pesachim 68b): States that Shavuot is “half for Hashem and half for you,” meaning it should be observed with both Torah study and festive joy.
(Source: Chabad.org)
וּקְרָאתֶ֞ם בְּעֶ֣צֶם ׀ הַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֗ה מִֽקְרָא־קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָכֶ֔ם כׇּל־מְלֶ֥אכֶת עֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֣א תַעֲשׂ֑וּ חֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֛ם בְּכׇל־מוֹשְׁבֹ֥תֵיכֶ֖ם לְדֹרֹֽתֵיכֶֽם׃ - פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר
Leviticus 23:21 - "And you shall designate on this very day a holy occasion it shall be for you; you shall not perform any work of labor. [This is] an eternal statute in all your dwelling places throughout your generations."

This Mitzvah's Fundamentals

Holidays - חַגִּים

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Mitzvot related to the Jewish festivals — their observance, rituals, prohibitions, and spiritual significance. This includes Torah-commanded holidays like Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot, as well as rabbinic celebrations such as Purim and Chanukah.

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