The Torah states (Devarim 16:14), בחגך ושמחת, “You shall rejoice on your festival.” This mitzvah applies throughout the entire festival, including Chol Hamoed,170 and it applies to men and women171 (although in different ways, as will be explained below).
Commenting on this verse, the Gemara172 explains that when the Beis Hamikdash is standing, this rejoicing should be done by eating the meat of korbanos such as shelamim-offerings. Without the Beis Hamikdash, this rejoicing should be done by engaging in activities which bring about joy. Additionally, it is incumbent upon the head of the household, as part of this mitzvah, to ensure that his wife, children, and anyone else included in his household rejoice on Yom Tov.173 The Gemara prescribes wine for men, fine clothing for women, and toasted grains and nuts for children.174
Besides the requirement to rejoice by eating, drinking, and the like, one is also required to set aside time for Torah study.175
Drinking Wine
The Gemara states that, when the Beis Hamikdash is not standing, “One is not considered to be rejoicing if he does not drink wine.” The implication is that, at least for men, one must specifically rejoice by drinking wine.
Regarding how this should be done, Shulchan Aruch176 rules that one’s Yom Tov meals must include wine. Mishnah Berurah177 explains that this means drinking wine during the meals, besides the wine that one drinks for Kiddush.
Some say that one must drink a revi’is of wine,178 while others say that a revi’is is not necessary so long as one feels joy by drinking even a smaller amount of wine.179 Many Poskim understand that when Chazal discussed rejoicing with wine, they were referring specifically the effect had by its alcoholic content. Therefore, they rule that this obligation cannot be fulfilled with grape juice.180 Additionally, some Poskim maintain that alcoholic beverages other than wine can also be used to fulfill this mitzvah.181 Some Poskim, unlike the opinion mentioned above, maintain that grape juice can be used for this mitzvah, since it has the halachic status of wine.182
Despite the above, many people are not particular to drink wine all of the days of Yom Tov. Poskim suggest a reason for this: the requirement to drink wine is specifically for someone who enjoys drinking wine; otherwise, drinking wine is not considered a form of rejoicing.183 Therefore, someone who does not enjoy drinking wine is exempt from doing so on Yom Tov. Nevertheless, he is not exempt from rejoicing on Yom Tov, and he should do so in other ways.184
Nice Garments for Men and Women
As mentioned above, women are also obligated in the mitzvah of rejoicing on Yom Tov. The Gemara (Pesachim, ibid.) states that women should rejoice with nice clothing.185 Presumably, here too, the Gemara was specific and women are required to rejoice specifically by wearing fine clothes.186 However, if a woman already has something suitable to wear for Yom Tov and does need additional clothing, she should use some other means of rejoicing.187
Note that men should also wear nice clothes on Yom Tov, and the Yom Tov clothes should preferably be even nicer than their Shabbos clothes.188
Sweets for Children
As mentioned above, the Gemara prescribes toasted grains and nuts for children. This is just an example of sweets, and one should give one’s children whatever sweets are appropriate.189
Lavish Meals, Eating Meat
As mentioned, when the Beis Hamikdash was standing, the ultimate form of rejoicing was to eat the meat of korbanos. Rambam190 writes that this was specific to eating meat and not food from any other type of offering, such as fowl or bread, as one rejoices the most when he eats meat. Today, as we unfortunately do not have the Beis Hamikdash, Chazal mandated that one drink wine, and no mention is made in the Gemara regarding a requirement to eat meat.
Nevertheless, Rambam191 writes that one should eat meat on Yom Tov, and his wording seems to indicate that it is an absolute requirement just like wine. Mishnah Berurah192 explains, however, that even though it is a mitzvah to eat meat, it is not an absolute requirement. One who cannot afford meat should at least have fowl or fish.193
In any event, one is required to eat two bread meals on each day of Yom Tov, one at night and one during the day. Some say that one should eat fruit sometime during the day in deference to the opinion which requires a third meal on Yom Tov. Some say that this is the basis of the custom to have an additional dish beyond that which one usually has at a Shabbos meal.194
Gladdening the Less Fortunate
Part of the mitzvah of rejoicing on Yom Tov is that of gladdening other, less fortunate individuals such as widows, orphans, geirim, and the poor. This is evident from the verse which states, וְשָׂמַחְתָּ בְּחַגֶּךָ אַתָּה ... וְהַלֵּוִי וְהַגֵּר וְהַיָּתוֹם וְהָאַלְמָנָה אֲשֶׁר בִּשְׁעָרֶיךָ, “You shall rejoice on your festival, you… the Levi, the ger, the orphan, and the widow who are within your gates.” Rambam195 and Zohar196 write in extremely severe terms concerning someone who focuses only on his and his family’s rejoicing without concern for the needs of others.
170 Rambam, Yom Tov 6:17.
171 Mishnah Berurah 529, note 15.
172 Pesachim 109a.
173 Shulchan Aruch 529:2.
174 Pesachim ibid.; see Shulchan Aruch ibid.
175 Shulchan Aruch 529:1. Although both the Gemara and Shulchan Aruch state that one should dedicate half of the day for rejoicing with food and drink and half for Torah study, Pri Megadim (242, Eishel Avraham 4) explains that this was not meant to be exactly half and half, but rather that time must be set aside for both.
176 Chapter 529, Passage 1.
177 Note 11, ad loc.
178 See Chol Hamoed Kehilchaso 1:12, based on Torah Ohr of the author of Shulchan Aruch Harav.
179 R’ Shmuel Wosner and R’ Chaim Kanievsky, as cited in Leket Hilchos Yom Tov 1, footnote 4.
180 Hilchos Chol Hamoed, ibid., citing R’ Moshe Feinstein (see also Chol Hamoed Kehilchaso 1, footnote 24).
181 Chol Hamoed Kehilchaso 1, footnote 25. Piskei Teshuvos (529, footnote 30) suggests that with beverages such as whiskey, it is not necessary to drink a revi’is, since even less than that has the desired effect.
182 R’ Yaakov Kamenetzky, as cited in Emes LeYa’akov, Orach Chaim 529, footnote 483; R’ Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, as cited in Ma’adanei Shlomo, page 13.
183 See Yom Tov Kehilchaso 27:17 and footnote 65 ad loc.
184 See Sha’agas Aryeh 65.
185 As well as jewelry (Rambam, Yom Tov 6:18). If this is not possible, at least new shoes should be purchased (Beiur Halachah 529:2, ד"ה כפי ממונו).
186 See Leket Hilchos Yom Tov 1, footnote 5, citing R’ Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, with regard to nice clothing for women. This is also the implication of Beiur Halachah 529, Passage 2, ד"ה כפי.
187 Chut Shani, page 160; Shevet HaLevi X:80.
188 Shulchan Aruch 529:1 and Mishnah Berurah, note 12 ad loc.
189 Kerem Eliezer, Pesach, 75:5.
190 Chagigah 2:10, based on the Gemara Chagigah 8b.
191 Yom Tov 6:18.
192 529, note 11; Beiur Halachah 529:2, ד"ה כיצד.
193 See Yad Ephraim, Yoreh Deah 1:8, and Shevet HaLevi III:18.
194 Mishnah Berurah 529, note 13.
195 Cited by Mishnah Berurah 519, note 17.
196 Cited by Mishnah Berurah ibid.