📋 Melachos on Chol Hamoed – Permitted vs. Forbidden
✅ General Rule of Thumb:
- Amateur/simple work (Maaseh Hedyot) → Often permitted if for Moed, mitzvah, or to prevent loss.
- Professional work (Maaseh Uman) → Generally forbidden, unless for food prep, public bodily needs, or preventing loss.
| Melacha | Status on Chol Hamoed |
| Borer (Selecting) | Permitted for food preparation) |
| Building | Forbidden (except amateur/simple work for Moed needs) |
| Cooking | Permitted for Moed needs (not for after the Moed, except Shabbos/Bris cases) |
| Dabeir Davar (Speech about work) | Permitted without restriction (e.g., discussing post-Moed work) |
| Destroying | Forbidden (unless needed for Moed purposes) |
| Electricity (lights, plugs) | Permitted without restriction; some require Moed need |
| Fixing items | Amateur fixes permitted for Moed; professional fixes only if preventing loss, danger, or food prep |
| Gardening / Uprooting | Forbidden, except watering to prevent damage or picking for Moed use |
| Grinding flour | Permitted for Moed use, even if could have been done earlier |
| Haircutting | Forbidden (with exceptions: children, mustache, women’s needs, medical/lice) |
| Killing/Injuring creatures | Forbidden, except fishing/hunting for Moed food |
| Laundering | Forbidden, except children’s clothes, undergarments, or if only one garment available |
| Moving homes | Forbidden, unless to prevent loss or moving into one’s own home |
| Sewing | Forbidden professionally; amateur sewing for Moed needs permitted (e.g., tzitzis) |
| Shearing animals | Forbidden |
| Techum (traveling beyond boundary) | Permitted without restriction |
| Tearing | Permitted for Moed needs; forbidden otherwise unless destructive and amateur |
| Trapping | Forbidden, except for Moed food needs |
| Tying/Untying | Forbidden, unless amateur and for Moed needs |
| Using a car (Driving) | Permitted for Moed needs or outings; fixing car only amateur and for Moed |
| Walking past Techum | Permitted |
| Washing clothes (Laundry) | Forbidden, with limited exceptions (see above) |
| Writing | Professional script forbidden; regular script permitted for Moed needs, loss prevention, mitzvah, or public need |
📋 Melachos on Chol Hamoed – Color‑Coded Guide
👉 This table gives you a visual halachic map:
- If it’s 🟢, you’re good to go.
- If it’s 🔴, avoid unless you fall into a rare exception.
- If it’s 🟡, check carefully — context matters.
- 🟢 Green = Generally permitted
- 🔴 Red = Forbidden
- 🟡 Yellow = Forbidden, but with important exceptions (e.g., for food prep, mitzvah, preventing loss, or Moed needs)
| Melacha | Status | Notes |
| Borer (Selecting) | 🟢 Permitted | Permitted for food prep or Moed need |
| Building | 🔴 Forbidden | Only amateur/simple work for Moed needs |
| Cooking | 🟢 Permitted | For Moed needs; not for after Moed (except Shabbos/Bris) |
| Dabeir Davar (Work talk) | 🟢 Permitted | May discuss post‑Moed work freely |
| Destroying | 🟡 Exceptions | Only if needed for Moed |
| Electricity (lights, plugs) | 🟢 Permitted | Some require Moed need |
| Fixing items | 🟡 Exceptions | Amateur fixes for Moed; professional only for loss, danger, or food prep |
| Gardening / Uprooting | 🟡 Exceptions | Watering to prevent damage; picking for Moed use |
| Grinding flour | 🟢 Permitted | Even if could have been done earlier |
| Haircutting | 🔴 Forbidden | Exceptions: children, mustache, women’s needs, medical |
| Killing/Injuring creatures | 🟡 Exceptions | Only for Moed food needs |
| Laundering | 🔴 Forbidden | Exceptions: children’s clothes, undergarments, or only one garment |
| Moving homes | 🟡 Exceptions | Only to prevent loss or moving into one’s own home |
| Sewing | 🟡 Exceptions | Amateur sewing for Moed needs; professional forbidden |
| Shearing animals | 🔴 Forbidden | No exceptions |
| Techum (traveling beyond boundary) | 🟢 Permitted | No restrictions |
| Tearing | 🟡 Exceptions | Permitted for Moed needs; otherwise forbidden |
| Trapping | 🟡 Exceptions | Only for Moed food needs |
| Tying/Untying | 🟡 Exceptions | Amateur tying/untangling for Moed needs |
| Using a car (Driving) | 🟢 Permitted | For Moed needs or outings; fixing car only amateur |
| Walking past Techum | 🟢 Permitted | No restrictions |
| Washing clothes (Laundry) | 🔴 Forbidden | Limited exceptions (see above) |
| Writing | 🟡 Exceptions | Professional script forbidden; regular script allowed for Moed, mitzvah, loss, or public need |
