Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim · Siman 529

Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim 529 — English translation

Translation: Sefaria Community Translation. Section numbers match the Hebrew text above.

1. 1The Laws of Being Joyful on a Yom Tov. Containing 4 paragraphs: It is a holiday mitzvah to spend half the time in the House of Study and half of the time eating and drinking. One should not skimp on holiday expenses; it must be honored and enjoyed like Shabbat. Rema: It is forbidden to eat after Mincha on the day before a holiday, just like for Shabbat, and this is part of honoring it (Rambam chapter 6). However, if the day before the holiday is Shabbat, one can have the third meal and eat a bit of bread in honor of the holiday. It is a mitzvah to knead bread on the day before the holiday in honor of the holiday (Mahari"l laws of a holiday) like on Friday, as was explained above in chapter 342. It is an obligation to eat two loaves of bread and to include wine in the meal. Holiday clothes should be nicer than those for Shabbat. It is not the practice to make a third meal. And on a holiday, we tarry when going to synagogue and quickly leave synagogue because of the holiday joy (Gemara end of chapter "Hakoreh Omed").
2. 22. It is an obligation for a man to be happy and in good spirits on the holiday - him, his wife, his kids, and all who are with him. How should he make them happy? He should give the children nuts and the women new clothes and jewelry according to his finances. One is obligated to feed the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, along with other poor people. (The rules of fasting on a holiday are the same as for Shabbat, and see above chapter 388.)
3. 33. One should eat, drink, and be happy on the holiday. One should not overindulge in meat, wine, laughter, or frivolity, because laughter and frivolity are not happiness but debauchery and foolishness. We were not commanded to engage in debauchery and frivolity but only happiness that involves worshipping the Creator.
4. 44. The court must appoint officers who will walk around patrolling gardens, orchards, and rivers, so that men and women will not gather there to eat and drink and end up sinning. They should similarly warn the whole nation about this - that men and women should not joyously mix in houses and overindulge in wine, lest they come to sin. Rather, all should be holy.

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