The Best Day in the Year

By RABBI JOSEPH H. PROUSER

Chol Ha-Moed Succot and Chol Ha-Moed Pesach have a great deal in common. On these intermediate Festival days, we recite Hallel, Musaf, and Ya-aleh V’Yavo. In both intermediate periods, Holiday work restrictions are relaxed. There are, however, subtle, yet significant differences.

On Succot, we sing the full Hallel every day. On Chol Ha-Mo’ed Pesach (as on its final days), we recite the “abbreviated” Hallel. On Shabbat Chol Ha-Moed Pesach, the regular Shabbat blessing is recited following the Haftarah. On Shabbat Chol Ha-Mo’ed Succot (when Chol Ha-Mo’ed includes Shabbat – it does not this year!), the enhanced Festival blessing is chanted.

Some say Succot enjoys this “advantage” over Pesach because Pesach recalls events preceding the giving of the Torah. The fullness of joy comes only once we embrace Torah.

Rabbi Isaac Klein (citing the Levush on O.H. 663:1) explains the difference is because on Succot – unlike Pesach – “the sacrificial service in the Temple of Jerusalem varied each day, making each day a separate festival.”

Imagine! A new holiday every day! A different reason to celebrate! Yet another cause for happiness! Thus, Succot is “Zman Simchateinu – the Season of our Joy.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson captured the reduplicative joy of Succot when he said: “Write it on your heart that every day is the best day of the year!”

Rabbi Joseph H. Prouser is the editor of “Masorti: The New Journal of Conservative Judaism.” The latest edition of Masorti published in the summer of 2026 and honors the American Sestercentennial. A subscription is $18 per annum. Print copies are available from Ben Yehuda Press and Amazon.