Parshas Emor
“On the first day it will be a holy reading for you; you may not do any act of work!” (Vayikra 23:7)
It is a positive commandment to rest on the first day of Passover, as it says “On the first day it will be a holy reading for you!”, and whenever the Torah discusses a “holy reading” Chazal explain that it is a commandment to sanctify it, and the method of sanctification is by not doing work, the only permitted work being that which is necessary for eating.
Amongst the roots of the commandment is the idea that we should have time to think about the festival and the miracles which we experienced on it, and that we should be able to praise and laud Hashem in our thoughts for the miracles which He did, and also think about the festival itself, and if a person would be occupied with work, he would be unable to think about anything.
This commandment applies in all places and at all times, both to men and to women.
It is likewise a negative commandment that one may not do work on the first day of Passover, as it says “On the first day it will be a holy reading for you; you may not do any act of work!”.
Amongst the roots of this commandment are that we should be able to remember the great miracles that Hashem did for us and our fathers, and speak about them and tell our children and grandchildren, for through resting from the occupations of this world, one can be free to do this. If, on the other hand, work would be permitted, even if it would be light work, each person would occupy himself with his work, and the honor of the festival would be forgotten from adults and children alike. There is also a tremendous achievement through this resting, and that is that all the people gather in the synagogues and places of learning to listen to words of Torah, and the leaders of the people can guide them and they will learn knowledge.
This commandment applies in all places and at all times, both to men and to women.
