From the Rav’s Desk: Swimming on Yom Tov

1. Question: [Thursday, 27^th Iyar, 5783]

Is there any allowance to swim on Yom Tov. We have a pool in our backyard and for some reason while our family was accustomed not to swim on Shabbos we were accustomed to swim on Yom Tov. Is this Halachically accurate, and is there any difference between Sephardim and Ashkenazim in this matter?

Answer:

It is forbidden to swim on Yom Tov just as it is forbidden to swim on Shabbos, and there is no difference in this regard between Ashkenazim and Sephardim.

Explanation:

It is an explicit Mishneh, recorded in the Shulchan Aruch, that it is forbidden to swim on Yom Tov just as it is forbidden to swim on Shabbos. To note, however, that even regarding Shabbos different types of pools have different swimming regulations and the same would apply on Yom Tov.

Sources: See Admur 524:1; Michaber 524:1; Mishneh Beitza 36b; See regarding swimming on Shabbos and the different types of pools: Admur 339:1; M”B 339:6; Ketzos Hashulchan 146 footnote 34 number 13 and 15