Chol HaMoed: Difference between revisions

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===Degradation of the holiday===
===Degradation of the holiday===
# Certain activities must be limited to avoid degradation of the holiday. For this reason, even when commercial activity is permitted it should be done in private. <ref>Beiur Halacha 539 s.v. Eino Mutar, quoted by Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 8) </ref>
 
# For example, it’s forbidden to paint one’s apartment on Chol HaMoed to improve its appearance. <ref>Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 8) in name of Rav Moshe Feinstein. Or Letzion 3:24:6 writes that it is permitted to have a non-Jewish painter paint a yeshiva during Chol Hamoed if it isn't possible another time because it would interrupt the learning.</ref>
#Certain activities must be limited to avoid degradation of the holiday. For this reason, even when commercial activity is permitted it should be done in private. <ref>Beiur Halacha 539 s.v. Eino Mutar, quoted by Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 8) </ref>
#For example, it’s forbidden to paint one’s apartment on Chol HaMoed to improve its appearance. <ref>Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 8) in name of Rav Moshe Feinstein. Or Letzion 3:24:6 writes that it is permitted to have a non-Jewish painter paint a yeshiva during Chol Hamoed if it isn't possible another time because it would interrupt the learning.</ref>


===Which Melachot are entirely permitted?===
===Which Melachot are entirely permitted?===
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! !!General Holiday Needs!!Making Food!!Communal Need!!Financial Loss!!A Very Poor Worker
! !!General Holiday Needs!!Making Food!!Communal Need!!Financial Loss!!A Very Poor Worker
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|Professional Labor||Forbidden <ref>Mishna Brurah 530:1, Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 11) </ref>||Permitted <ref>Mishna Brurah 530:1, Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 36) </ref>||Permitted <ref>Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 47) </ref>||Permitted <ref>Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 51) </ref>||Permitted <ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 540:2, 534:3</ref>
|Professional Labor||Forbidden <ref>Mishna Brurah 530:1, Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 11) </ref>||Permitted <ref>Mishna Brurah 530:1, Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 36) </ref>||Permitted (under certain conditions- see footnote) <ref>Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 47)
 
Sheloshim Yom Kodem HaChag (vol. 2, p. 168) writes that one may only perform melacha via professional labor for a communal need, provided that all three of these conditions are met: 1) the melakha is l'tzorekh haguf (such as fixing public roads or eating/drinking), 2) the community needs it on the holiday itself, and not after the holiday, and 3) one can complete the melakha on the holiday. </ref>||Permitted <ref>Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 51) </ref>||Permitted <ref>Shulchan Aruch O.C. 540:2, 534:3</ref>
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|Excessive Exertion||Permitted <ref>Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 17) </ref>||Permitted <ref>Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 36) </ref>||Permitted <ref>Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 47) </ref>||Forbidden <ref>Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 52) </ref>||-
|Excessive Exertion||Permitted <ref>Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 17) </ref>||Permitted <ref>Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 36) </ref>||Permitted <ref>Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 47) </ref>||Forbidden <ref>Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 52) </ref>||-
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#Nonetheless, if it’s intolerable to live under present conditions, there’s a loss of money one may certainly move homes. However, if one is moving from a rented house to one that one owns, or from a home which one splits with others to live in one’s own home there’s room to be lenient and preferably one should ask a rabbinic authority. <ref>S”A 535:1 writes that one may not move homes from one courtyard to another, however, in 535:2 he permits if one is moving from someone else’s home to one’s own home. Mishna Brurah 535:7 explains that moving to one’s own home is permitted because it’s a Simcha for him, yet, it’s not permitted if one is just moving from a ugly or small house to a nicer or bigger one. Shaar Tzion 535:5 writes that the same leniency would be true if one is moving from a joint home to one’s own home. Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 68:24 quotes this as halacha. However, Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 7) writes that one shouldn’t move unless there’s more serious needs such as if the living conditions are intolerable or there’s a loss of money. Mishna Brurah 535:7, Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 7), and Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 68:24 write that each case should be judged by a rabbinic authority. </ref>
#Nonetheless, if it’s intolerable to live under present conditions, there’s a loss of money one may certainly move homes. However, if one is moving from a rented house to one that one owns, or from a home which one splits with others to live in one’s own home there’s room to be lenient and preferably one should ask a rabbinic authority. <ref>S”A 535:1 writes that one may not move homes from one courtyard to another, however, in 535:2 he permits if one is moving from someone else’s home to one’s own home. Mishna Brurah 535:7 explains that moving to one’s own home is permitted because it’s a Simcha for him, yet, it’s not permitted if one is just moving from a ugly or small house to a nicer or bigger one. Shaar Tzion 535:5 writes that the same leniency would be true if one is moving from a joint home to one’s own home. Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 68:24 quotes this as halacha. However, Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 7) writes that one shouldn’t move unless there’s more serious needs such as if the living conditions are intolerable or there’s a loss of money. Mishna Brurah 535:7, Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 7), and Shemirat [[Shabbat]] KeHilchata 68:24 write that each case should be judged by a rabbinic authority. </ref>
#One may not set aside time to move around and organize inventory for business on Chol Hamoed.<ref>Shevet Halevi 6:67 writes that moving around and organizing business inventory is a tircha and forbidden just like it is forbidden to turn over one's fruit unless they're going to rot. Another proof is that it is forbidden to bring utensils back from a worker on Chol Hamoed. Also, it is forbidden to move one's residence from place to place because of tircha.</ref>
#One may not set aside time to move around and organize inventory for business on Chol Hamoed.<ref>Shevet Halevi 6:67 writes that moving around and organizing business inventory is a tircha and forbidden just like it is forbidden to turn over one's fruit unless they're going to rot. Another proof is that it is forbidden to bring utensils back from a worker on Chol Hamoed. Also, it is forbidden to move one's residence from place to place because of tircha.</ref>
# It is forbidden to contract a house to be built on Chol Hamoed.<ref>Shulchan Aruch OC 543:2 writes that one can't contract a house to be built by a non-Jew on Chol Hamoed. Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 100) writes that if the custom is that everyone contracts their house to be built with a contract (kablanut) and not by individual day workers (sachir) it is a discussion if it can be built on Chol Hamoed and a person must ask a posek if they can rely on that leniency.</ref>
#It is forbidden to contract a house to be built on Chol Hamoed.<ref>Shulchan Aruch OC 543:2 writes that one can't contract a house to be built by a non-Jew on Chol Hamoed. Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 100) writes that if the custom is that everyone contracts their house to be built with a contract (kablanut) and not by individual day workers (sachir) it is a discussion if it can be built on Chol Hamoed and a person must ask a posek if they can rely on that leniency.</ref>


==Buying and Selling==
==Buying and Selling==
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[[Category:Pesach]]
[[Category:Pesach]]
[[Category:Sukkot]]
[[Category:Sukkot]]
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