Chol HaMoed

From Halachipedia

Kavod and Oneg

  1. There’s a requirement of Kavod and Oneg on Chol HaMoed, such as having special food, drinks and clothing, but it is more lenient than kavod of Yom Tov. [1]
  2. As part of Kavod, one should wear clothes that a little better than weekday clothes. [2] Some have the minhag to wear Shabbat clothing on Chol HaMoed. [3]
  3. As part of Kavod, some have the practice to leave the table cloth on the table all of Chol HaMoed. [4]
  4. As part of Kavod, one is not obligated to have a bread meal, however it is preferable to do so. [5]
  5. There’s a requirement of Simcha on Chol Hamoed just like there is on Yom Tov. [6]
  6. One should fulfill simcha of Chol HaMoed with that which makes each person happy. Some say that this can be fulfilled with any activity that brings enjoyment to a person . However, some have the practice to fulfill simcha as Chazal instituted concerning Yom Tov: men to drink wine, women by wearing new clothing, and children by getting toys or candies. [7]
  7. According to those who fulfill simcha on Chol HaMoed like simcha on Yom Tov, men should fulfill simcha with wine and not grape juice. [8]

Forbidden work

  1. Melacha on Chol HaMoed is forbidden just like Yom Tov, however, there are five major leniencies to permit Melacha on Chol HaMoed which are: 1) Tzorech HaMoed(work done for work a need for the holiday), 2) Tzorech Ochel Nefesh (work to prepare food), 3) Tzarchi Rabim (work needed for communal purpose), 4) Dvar HaAved (work done to avoid a loss), 5) Poel Shein Lo Mah Yochal (work done by a laborer who doesn’t have food to eat). [9]
  2. Work is permitted for Tzorech HaMoed meaning that unskilled work is permitted if done for a need for the holiday. However, skilled work is forbidden even for a need of the holiday. [10]
  3. Fixing a broken object is called a holiday need if the object will be needed, however, if there’s a replacement that can be used instead or one could easily borrow a replacement, fixing the chair isn’t a holiday need. [11]
  4. One may not delay doing a certain work from before Chol HaMoed and do it on Chol HaMoed. [12]
  5. For example, if a chair broke, it may be fixed in an unskilled manner is the chair is needed for the holiday, however, if another chair could be used or a chair could be borrowed one shouldn’t fix the chair. Additionally, if it takes carpentery skills to fix the chair or it was broken before the holiday and could have been fixed then, one may not fix the chair. [13]
  6. Doing work for the holiday needs of others is also permitted [14]
  7. Washing or vaacuming the floor which is usually cleaned once or more times a week is permitted during Chol HaMoed. [15]

Writing

  1. It's permitted to write down a Chiddush (novel idea in Torah) that one had because one might come to forget it by the end of the holiday. [16]

References

  1. ↑ Magan Avraham 530:1, and Mishna Brurah 530:1 write that there’s Kavod on Chol HaMoed, however Shaar Tzion 530:4 points out that it’s not as strict as Kavod of Yom Tov. On the other hand, Sh”t Rabbi Akiva Eiger 1 (in the Hashmatot) and S”A HaRav 529:5 write that there’s no Kavod and Oneg on Chol HaMoed.
  2. ↑ Mishna Brurah 530:1 (and Shaar Tzion 530:4), and Aruch HaShulchan 530:4
  3. ↑ Nimukei Orach Chaim 530:3 and Chaye Adam 106:1 hold that on Chol HaMoed, it’s an obligation to wear Shabbat clothes but not Yom Tov clothes that are a little better than Shabbat clothes. Mishna Brurah brings the Maharil who had the practice to wear Shabbat clothes on Chol HaMoed.
  4. ↑ Pri Megadim 639 (M”Z 639:1) and Aruch HaShulchan 530:4
  5. ↑ S”A 188:7 writes that since there’s no obligation to have a meal on CHol HaMoed is one forget Yaaleh VeYavo one doesn’t repeat Brikat HaMazon. Magan Avraham 530:1 and Mishna Brurah 530:1 write that it’s preferable to have bread since Kavod is with food and the most important food is bread.
  6. ↑ Rambam Hilchot Yom Tov 6:17, brought as Halacha in S”A HaRav 529:6-7
  7. ↑ Regarding simcha of Yom Tov, Pesachim 109a says that nowadays when there’s no Korbanot shlamim one fulfills simcha with wine. The Gemara continues that women fulfill their simcha with new clothes and children with toys and candies. This is brought as Halacha in Rambam (Yom Tov 6:17) and S”A 529:2. Rambam (Mitzvah 54) and Chinuch (Mitzvah 488) hold that Simcha is a Mitzvah Deoritta nowadays, however, Tosfot (Moed Katan 14b D”H Aseh) holds that Simcha is only fulfilled Derabbanan nowadays. According to Magan Avraham 530:1, Nimukei Orach Chaim 530:2, Moadim UZmanim 1:29 say that there’s no obligation to have wine on Chol HaMoed (this may be based on Sukkah 47b). However, Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (Siman 1) writes that from Rambam 6:17 it seems that all the days of the holiday are the same in how to fulfill Simcha. Similarly, Sh”t Rabbi Akiva Eiger 1 (in the Hashmatot), Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (Buir 1) in name of Rav Yacov Kamenetsky, Rav Moshe Feinstein and the Debersiner Rav who hold that there’s a reason to have wine to fulfill simcha.
  8. ↑ Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (Buir 1:2) quotes Rabbi Moshe Feinstien and the Debersiner Rav who say that grape juice doesn’t fulfill the mitzvah of simcha. Nemukei Orach Chaim 529:2 writes that one should have a reviyat of wine, while Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 3; based on Sh”t Rosh 25:1) writes that a Meloh Lugmav is sufficient.
  9. ↑ Tur writes that all of the melachas of Shabbat and Yom Tov apply to Chol HaMed with five exceptions. All the achronim bring this as Halacha including Mishna Brurah 530:1 brings them as halacha.
  10. ↑ Mishna Brurah 540:1
  11. ↑ Based on Bet Yosef 534 and Magan Avraham 544:1, Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 12) writes that if one can borrow a replacement one must not fix the broken object.
  12. ↑ S”A 536:1
  13. ↑ Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 12) based on the principles of Tzorech HaMoed.
  14. ↑ S”A 542:1
  15. ↑ Minchat Yom Tov 104:2 writes that since it’s normal to wash the floor twice a week it’s permissible to wash the floors on Chol Hamoed even if it’s a excessive work, however, scrubbing the floor to remove dirt is forbidden as it involves a melacha and requires excessive effort. Hilchot Chol HaMoed Zichron Shlomo (pg 19) extends this to floors that are cleaned once a week, and permits vaacuming as well.
  16. ↑ S"A 546:9 see: http://dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipID=857
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