Q. This morning first day Chol Hamoed (Pesach) by mistake I davened for Shacharis the Yom Tov Shemone Ezrei. I was told that I have to repeat and say the weekday one and add Yaale Veyovo. I wonder why is that so? After all Chol Hamoed is also a part of Yom Tov as we explicitly repeatedly mention in Yaaleh Veyovo and Mussaf? Besides I have been in Chasidisshe shuln and they great each other with a Gut Yom Tov also in Chol Hamoed?
A. Mishna Berura (490: 5) indeed rules that Chol Hamoed is not called Yom Tov and that is why one has to repeat the Amida in such a case. He also mentions that one should not recite at the end of Birchas Hamazon the Horachamon dedicated to Yom Tov.
Although, in principle and in the meaning and symbolism of the day, Chol Hamoed may be seen as a part of the Yom Tov, in Halacha it is not.
(It isalso a fact that the common greeting that people use on Chol Hamoed is not 'Gut Yom Tov' but rather a 'Gut'n Moed'
Important Numbers
