Questions tagged [chol-hamoed]
the 'intermediate' (2nd or 3rd through 6th or 7th) days of Pesach (Passover) & Sukos (Tabernacles), on which creative labor is banned to a lesser extent than on, e.g., day 1
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Stock trading Chol Hamoed
From what I understand, one is not allowed to do “commerce”, in the sense of having a business open, on chol hamoed (with the exception of it being open for a mitzvah).
Is one allowed to trade, buy ...
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Going to college or university on Chol Ha'moed
Is it allowed to go to a non-Jewish college, university, trade school, or other training program on Chol Ha'moed? If so, why?
(Please ask your rabbi instead of trusting what you read here, for ...
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On Chol Ha'moed, can you rinse containers before recycling them?
Background
Most cities ask that you rinse all bottles, cans, and containers before you recycle them.
Why? Because these items may get bounced around during transport and processing. If these items ...
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If you're not overweight, can you still weigh yourself during Chol Ha'moed?
Background
On Chol Ha'moed, melacha is sometimes, but not always, permitted.
During Chol Ha'moed, more food may be available than usual. The research literature suggests that, when there's a lot of ...
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Can you practice art on Chol Hamoed if you do it digitally?
As I understand it, traditional writing and art is for the most part forbidden on Chol Hamoed, but typing something up on the computer or your phone is generally allowed because it's not permanent and ...
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Is it OK to dress casually if someone is going on a hike on Chol Hamoed? [closed]
I'm pretty sure there is a thing about still dressing nicely on Chol Hamoed, but what if someone wants to go on a hike? Is it considered bad to dress in shorts and a T-shirt in such a situation? ...
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Why do we mention Sukkos in the Haftorah bracha on Shabbos Chol HaMoed Sukkos but not Pesach in the Haftorah bracha of Shabbos Chol HaMoed Pesach? [duplicate]
In the final bracha after reading the haftorah on Shabbos Chol HaMoed Sukkos we say "...v'al haniviim v'al yom haShabbos haZeh v'al Yom Chag HaSukkos HaZeh", whereas on Shabbos Chol HaMoed ...
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Did the early generations do melacha on Chol Ha'moed?
The Gemara in Chagiga says:
that the Torah left it up to Chazal to figure out what constitutes as "work" on Chol Ha'moed.
"הא לא מסרן הכתוב אלא לחכמים, לומר לך אי זה יום אסור ואי זה ...
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Watching TV in the Sukkah?
Are there any poseqim that discuss the permissibility or lack thereof of watching TV, or any streaming media really, in the Sukkah?
What is the balance between the principles of תשבו כעין תדורו (that ...
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How much should a person eat on Chol Hamoed, Shabbos and Yom Tov?
The Tanya said food eaten on Shabbos is automatically elevated. I hear from a chossid that people should not do hiskafia on shabbos. However, the local Rosh Yeshiva said that eating more is not a ...
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What is the reason al pi sod for saying migdol in bentching on Chol HaMoed?
The Ben Ish Chai Chukas (1:19) writes
בארבע סעודות שבת וכן ביום טוב וחול המועד וראש חודש אומרים מגדול בו"ו,
וכתב בחסד לאלפים בשם הרב רבי דוד פאדרו ז"ל שגם בסעודת מילה ראוי לומר
מגדול בוא&...
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Non-medical N95 / KN95 / FFP2 masks, beards, shaving, Chol Ha'moed, and the Omer
Background information
There's no longer a shortage of non-medical N95 / FFP2 masks. Anyone who wants enhanced protection against COVID can now get some. Despite some rumors to the contrary, these ...
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Do we mention the holiday in the three faceted blessing during chol hamoed?
The three faceted blessing (ברכת מעין שלוש) has an addition for various occasions including Succos and Pesach. Are the additions added as well on Chol Hamoed or just Yom Tov? The reason for the ...
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Why do we sometimes repeat shmoneh esrei when we forget yaaleh v'yavo and sometimes not?
It is my understanding that we do not repeat shmoneh esrei when we forget yaaleh v'yavo by maariv on rosh chodesh because maariv is a reshus. Based on this premise why do we repeat shmoneh esrei when ...
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What was the original Torah reading in Israel on 16th Nissan?
The currently practiced Torah reading in Israel for the first day of Chol Hamoed Pesach is identical to that read in the Diaspora on the same day (where it is the second day of Yom Tov) namely ...
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What is the Torah Reading for the Afternoon of Shabbat Chol Hamoed?
When Shabbat occurs on Chol Hamoed of either Sukkot or Passover, the Torah verses Exodus 33:12–34:26 are read in the morning, but what verses are read at the Minchah service in the afternoon?
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Shutting lights off during Chol Ha'moed, to save electricity
Preface
During Shabbat, Orthodox Jewish practice is to avoid turning lights on or off. Perhaps turning lights on or off is a form of melacha. On Chol Ha'moed, melacha is sometimes, but not always, ...
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If you're not overweight, can you still use a food scale and an app to count calories during Chol Ha'moed?
Background
During Chol Ha'moed, more food may be available than usual. The research literature suggests that, when there's a lot of food variety available in our homes, we're more likely to overeat. ...
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Why is prior to creation called holy?
In Mechilta (to ex. 12.16), while discussing whether or not work is forbidden on chol hamoed, the time before and after the six days of creation are referred to as holy.
ששת ימי בראשית יוכיחו שיש ...
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Who can we write a will for on Hol Hamoed
The Mishnah in Moed Katan 3:3 says:
וְאֵלּוּ כּוֹתְבִין בַּמּוֹעֵד ... דְּיָתֵיקֵי
They may write the following documents during the festival: ... wills [of a dying person]
The parenthetical ...
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Why does the Vilna Gaon use the Yerushalmi version of Beitzo 1:10?
The Vilna Gaon famously held that there is no proof from Chazal that the obligation of tefillin applies on Chol HaMo'eid. In Bi'ur HaGro on Shulchan Oruch Orach Chayyim 31:2:2, he refutes the most ...
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Why is there a difference when to remove tefillin between Rosh Hodesh vs. Hol Hamo'ed Pesach?
I've read this M.Y. question that explains why tefillin are removed before Musaf on Rosh Hodesh and Hol Hamo'ed.
From what I have noticed in Nusach Ashkenaz shuls, on Hol Hamo'ed Pesach, tefillin is ...
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Sources for how many days of holidays are there per year?
Specifically, I am looking for a traditional source like the Baal Haturim. I overheard that a number that I don't remember, but basically like 49 days out of the year are holy days. Is there a mesorah ...
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Could there be permission to write software on Chol Hamoed?
Is it permissible to write computer software code on Chol Hamoed?
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Watering flowers or vegetable on Chol Hamoed
The first mishna in Moed Katan delineates limitations on agricultural work that may be performed on the less sanctified intermediate days of a festival (chol hamoed). The Shulchan Aruch (OC 537) ...
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Rambam on writing Teffilin and Mezuzah on Chol Hamoed
The Rambam in Hilchot Yom Tov (7,13) says that on Hol Hamoed it is Assur to write Tefilin or Mezuzah for others unless the Sofer needs the money for Tzorech Yom-Tov. Kesef Mishneh says that the Rambam ...
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Tefillin Chol HaMoed Hefsek
Although it's forbidden to make an interruption between putting on the tefilin shel yad and shel rosh (Shulchan Aruch 25:9)
אסור להפסיק בדיבור בין תפלה של יד לתפל' של ראש ואם הפסיק מברך על של
ראש ...
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Visiting the graves of Tzadikim on chol hamoed
I was recently informed that there is a minhag (custom) to not visit graves on chol hamoed.
Does this apply to visiting the graves of tzadikim?
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What is Different in Birkhat Hamazon During Khol Hamoed?
What do we say differently on khol hamoed (specifically khol hamoed Pesakh, but an answer for Sukkot would be nice too) in birkhat hamazon aside from ya’ale v’yavo? For example, do we say Shir Hama’...
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Is one allowed to go to a funeral on moed?
Is someone who is not a relative of the deceased allowed to go to the funeral on moed or is it forbidden because of אסור לעורר עצב ברגל? (One may not invoke sadness on a festival)
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Is one allowed to shave on Chol HaMoed for Yom Tov? [duplicate]
Is one allowed to shave on the last day of Chol HaMoed, going into Yom Tov? Does it make a difference if Yom Tov itself goes directly into Shabbos (“three day Yom Tov”)?
On the one hand: The Mechaber ...
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Chazan forgot Yaaleh VeYavo at Maariv Chol HaMoed
If a Chazan forgets Yaaleh Veyovo at Shacharis or Mincha - Shulchan Aruch HaRav 126:3-4 says that the Chazan can rely on his repetition of the Shemona Esrei for the forgotten Yaaleh Veyavo. If I am ...
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Why is it called "Shabbos Chol haMoed"?
Why is the intermediate Shabbos of a festival referred to as Shabbos Chol haMoed (and not something else, e.g. Shabbos haMoed)? Aren't Shabbos and Chol opposites?
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Why do we Daven Yom tov Musaf on Shabbat Chol Hamoed and do Yom Tov Leining?
Why do we Daven Yom tov Musaf on Shabbat Chol Hamoed and do Yom Tov Leining? Based on תדיר ושאינו תדיר I would have thought we say regular Shabbat Mussaf with insertions for Yom Tov and Similarly ...
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Why repeat birkas hamazon after omitting "yaale v'yavo" on chol hamoed
Aruch Hashulchan, OC 188:18, cites a difference of opinion regarding the following case. On Shabas which is rosh chodesh, someone says the Shabas addition in birkas hamazon (grace after the meal) but ...
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Donating Blood on Chol Hamo'ed
I was asked to donate platelets this week because the local blood center is looking specifically for my blood type. The only practical time for me is over chol hamo'ed (as I am off from work). I have ...
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Can I Cut a 6-Week-Old Baby's Fingernails on Chol Hamoed?
May one cut a newborn's fingernails on chol hamoed if she scratches her face with her nails on chol hamoed?
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Leyning on Chol Ha-moed Sukkot
Can anyone explain the rationale for the Ashkenazi leyning in chutz la-aretz on Chol Ha-Moed? For example, on the first day of chol ha-moed, we leyn as follows: first aliya - uvayom ha sheni; second ...
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Cutting hair for donation on Chol Hammoed
Is one allowed to cut their hair on chol hammoed for a mitzvah, more specifically to donate their hair, not for the purpose of a haircut but just making a braid and cutting that braid off the head not ...
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Can I use my phone on chol hamoed?
I would like to use my phone for leisure on chol hamoed. I know tying is permitted-but what about, say, browsing the Internet or watching videos?
Thanks.
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Is Tefillin worn during the Three Weeks of Tammuz?
BS''D
The Three Weeks are 3 weeks in Tammuz leading up to Tisha B'Av. During those weeks we add Selichos to our morning and afternoon prayers. My question is this: do we wear tefillin during these ...
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Can a person move during Chol HaMoed Pesach?
For financial reasons, I had to move into a suite belonging to a Non-Jew. 3 years later, my landlord has told me I have to move out so his daughter could move in.
However, the days I am expected to ...
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What criteria are used to establish the shul's minhag re Hol Hamo'ed tefillin wearing?
Follow up to this answer.
The Mishnah Berurah refers to the shul's minhag.
While on vacation, I entered a shul carrying my tefillin bag. In the shul, I saw 6 people wearing tefillin, one of them was ...
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Meat and wine on Chol HaMoed
There is an obligation for men to eat meat and drink wine on each day of Chol HaMoed, assuming one normally enjoys their consumption. I have three questions regarding this obligation:
May one fulfill ...
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Shul segregation during chol hamoed
Over Pesach and Sukkos, it is common to find segregated minyanim in which those who wear tefilin sit in one section while those who do not sit in another, or completely separate services for both. ...
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Do you have to eat bread meal(s) on every day of Chol HaMoed?
Many say there is an obligation to eat meals with bread as part of simchas Yom Tov.
Is there a similar obligation to eat bread during Chol HaMoed? If so, how often? For example, during Chol HaMoed ...
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Tephilin during krias hatorah on the third day of Pesach
Background: There seems to be a popular movement amongst those who wear tephilin on Chol Hamoed to leave them on until after krias hatora on the second (first, in the Diaspora) day of Chol Hamoed ...
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Is one allowed to vote for an election candidate during chol hamoed?
It seems like it goes against the spirit of the holiday to have to go out of one's way to vote. But what if it's for the sake of Heaven (example being a candidate being more pro-israel)?
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Asking/Answering non-Chag-related questions on Mi.Yodeya during Chol Hamoed
I don't know the Chol Hamoed laws at all well, but my impression is that practical/avoda- and melacha-type stuff that is not either related to the holiday, nor done to prevent loss, is generally ...
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Writing during Chol HaMoed
I've heard some people don't write during the intermediate days of the festival (Chol HaMoed). Is this a formal prohibition or just a custom? What's the origin of this?
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