Fixing items during Chol Hamoed

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Fixing items during Chol Hamoed:[1]

  1. The general rule:

In general, it is forbidden to fix items in a professional way during Chol Hamoed.[2] This applies even if it is needed for the sake of the Moed.[3] However, it is permitted to perform amateur fixing jobs on Chol Hamoed if it is being done for the sake of the Moed.[4] Professional fixing jobs are forbidden to be done even for the sake of the Moed, unless it needs to be done for the sake of preventing a monetary loss.[5] Likewise, it may be fixed even professionally if lack of doing so poses a danger.[6] Likewise, it may be fixed even in a professional way if it is needed for the sake of making food during the Moed.[7]

 

  1. Examples:
  2. One may knock a nail into a wall on Chol Hamoed for the sake of hanging a picture, if one will benefit from the hung picture on Chol Hamoed.[8] The same applies to any screw or nail, that it may be banged, or screwed in, if the item is needed to be used during the Moed.
  3. One may attach a Mezuzah onto a door on Chol Hamoed.
  4. Electrical appliances that are needed to make food [i.e. an oven or mixer] may be fixed even in a professional way for the sake of making food during the Moed.[9]
  5. Fan, heater, air conditioner:[10] May be fixed even in a professional way if the heat or cold is causing one pain.

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[1] See Michaber 540:1-8; Piskeiy Teshuvos 540:1-5; Chol Hamoed Kehilchaso 8:1-3, 19, 50-56

[2] See Michaber ibid; Levushei Serud ibid

[3] Levushei Serud 540; M”B 540:1

[4] See Michaber 540:5 regarding an amateur feeding bowl for animals; 540:6 regarding building an amateur bed; M”A 540:7 that only Maaseh Uman is forbidden to be fixed even if it is Tzoreich Hamoed, although Maaseh Hedyot may always be fixed for Tzoreich Hamoed; Maggid Mishneh 8:7 in name of Ramban; Chayeh Adam 113:3; M”B 540:1 and 16; Kaf Hachaim 540:24

[5] M”A 540:7; Michaber 540:4 regarding fixing a door

[6] Michaber 540:1

[7] See Michaber 540:7 permits building oven; Levushei Serud 540 that it is permitted to be done even in a professional way; M”B 540:8; Kaf Hachaim 540:29

[8] Chol Hamoed Kehilchaso 8:19

[9] Piskeiy Teshuvos 540:4

[10] See M”A 540:9; Piskeiy Teshuvos 540:5

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.

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