Working on Chol Hamoed
From Halachipedia
Buying and Selling
- In general, it is forbidden to buy or sell anything on chol hamoed.[1]
- If a person has merchandise that he can sell for a profit on chol hamoed, and if he waits until after the moed he'll lose money, meaning get back less than his original capital, it is permitted to sell it on chol hamoed.[2]
Lucrative Opportunities
- If a person could gain a lot of money from a certain deal he is allowed to buy or sell in private on chol hamoed as long as he spends some of his gains for simchat hamoed (enjoying chol hamoed or yom tov).[3]
Stocks
- In general, it is forbidden to buy or sell stocks on chol hamoed.[4]
- If there is a chance that a person is doing to lose money if he doesn't sell his stocks on chol hamoed he may do so.[5]
- If there is a really good chance to make a lot of money quickly by buying a certain stock some poskim allow him to purchase it on chol hamoed.[6]
Banking
- A Jew who owns a bank or someone who works at a bank may not operate the bank on chol hamoed since that involves melachot such as writing or typing. It is permitted for someone to work in the bank to avoid penalties or losses from theft or fraud checks.[7]
Paying Bills
- If a person can pay off his bills that are going to be due on chol hamoed beforehand he should do so. If he couldn't do so financially or forgot he may pay a bill on chol hamoed.[8]
Loans
- It is permitted to collect a loan on chol hamoed and it isn't similar to doing business on the moed.[9]
Loans involving Merchandise
- If a person lent money in order to receive merchandise in return it is forbidden to collect the merchandise on chol hamoed.[10]
- It is forbidden to go and try to collect merchandise that is owed from a loan on chol hamoed. If the borrower might run away after the moed it is considered a dvar haaved (concern for loss) and it is permitted.[11]
Money Changing
- It is forbidden to change money or exchange foreign currencies on chol hamoed.[12]
- If a person needs currency in order to spend it on a tzorech hamoed it is permitted to change money on chol hamoed.[13]
- ↑ Moed Katan 10b, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 539:1
- ↑ Moed Katan 10b, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 539:1
- ↑ Bet Yosef and Rama O.C. 539:1, Mishna Brurah 539:6
- ↑ Ben Ish Chai (Rav Poalim 1:32), Chol Hamoed Kehilchato 10:9 quoting Rav Moshe and Rav Ovadia Yosef, Tiferet 539:50 quoting Shulchan Aruch Hamekusar p. 108. This is obvious from Shulchan Aruch O.C. 539:1.
- ↑ Tiferet 539:50 quoting Chiko Mamtakim p. 161
- ↑ Tiferet 539:50 quoting Mishmeret Moed p. 125
- ↑ Tiferet 539:50 quoting Chiko Mamtakim p. 162
- ↑ Tiferet 539:50 quoting Moadei Hashem p. 39
- ↑ Shulchan Aruch O.C. 539:2
- ↑ Ravina in Moed Katan 10b, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 539:1
- ↑ Shulchan Aruch O.C. 539:1
- ↑ Tosfot Moed Katan 10b, Shulchan Aruch O.C. 539:14
- ↑ Tiferet 539:50 quoting Shemirat Shabbat Kehilchata ch. 65 fnt. 10
