Why Work Is Forbidden on the Intermediate Days of the Festival

"You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread" (Exodus 23:15): this teaches concerning the intermediate days of the festival that work is forbidden, the words of Rabbi Yoshiyah. Rabbi Yonatan says: it is not needed; it follows by an argument from the lighter to the heavier. If the first and seventh days, which have no sanctity before them and after them, are forbidden in the doing of work, then the intermediate days, which have sanctity before them and after them, all the more should be forbidden in the doing of work. The six days of creation will prove otherwise, for they have sanctity before them and after them and are permitted in the doing of work. What of the six days of creation, in which there is no additional offering? The New Moon will prove it, in which there is an additional offering and work is permitted. What of the New Moon, which is not called a holy convocation? You may say of the intermediate days, since they are called a holy convocation, it is right that work be forbidden. It was taught elsewhere: "You shall do no laborious work" (Leviticus 23:35) teaches concerning the intermediate days that work is forbidden, the words of Rabbi Yose the Galilean. Rabbi Akiva says: it is not needed; it says, "These are the appointed times of the LORD, holy convocations" (Leviticus 23:4). Of what does Scripture speak? If of the first day, a day of rest has already been stated; if of the seventh, a day of rest has already been stated; rather, of the intermediate days, that work is forbidden. It was taught elsewhere: "Six days you shall eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly" (Deuteronomy 16:8): just as the seventh is restrained, so the six are restrained. If so, just as the seventh is restrained in all work, so the six are restrained in all work; therefore Scripture says "the seventh": the seventh is restrained in all work, but the six are not restrained in all work. Thus Scripture handed the matter only to the Sages, to tell you which day is forbidden and which is permitted, which work is forbidden and which work is permitted. "You shall keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread": Rabbi Yehudah ben Beteira used to say, "as I have commanded you," so that you bring it only in the month of Aviv.