311. Closed on New Years: The prohibition against performing labor on Rosh Hashana

As with the other holidays we’ve discussed, there is both a positive mitzvah to refrain from creative acts of labor on Rosh Hashana and a negative mitzvah prohibiting such acts from being performed.

The reason not to do labor on Rosh Hashana is to free us up for the important things of the day. On Rosh Hashana, the whole world is judged. God balances His accounts, as it were, and slates are cleared so that the world can continue to endure. Accordingly, Rosh Hashana is a time to thank God for this tremendous gift, not to engage in our regular daily activities. The day is so full of awe that we do not even recite Hallel on it (see Talmud Rosh Hashana 32b). If we’re so overwhelmed by the Day of Judgment that we cannot recite Psalms of praise to God, how could we possibly spend the day pursuing more frivolous endeavors?

This mitzvah applies to both men and women in all times and places. It is discussed in the Talmud in the tractates of Beitza (8a-9a) and Makkos (21b-22a). It is codified in the Shulchan Aruch in Orach Chaim 495. This mitzvah is #326 of the 365 negative mitzvos in the Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvos and #150 of the 194 negative mitzvos that can be observed today in the Chofetz Chaim’s Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar.