Dismantling a succah during Succot

Hi,

[Note: Other laws of Succot may be found by clicking the relevant topics in the righthand sidebar.]

I am leaving town for the last days of Succot; may I dismantle my succah during chol hamoed?

There are three concerns involved in dismantling a succah on chol hamoed:

1. Performing labour during chol hamoed for a non-Yom Tov purpose;
2. Degrading the sanctity of the succah materials;
3. The possibility that one might need the succah again.

Because of these concerns, we do not dismantle a succah on chol hamoed. However, one may dismantle a succah if its materials are needed for another succah at one's destination. Also, one may remove succah decorations if he is concerned that they might be damaged before his return.

What if one needs to build a succah during chol hamoed for temporary use, e.g. camping? One should declare before building the succah that he intends to dismantle it during chol hamoed. However, even in such a case one may dismantle it only in an amateur way, lest he violate the prohibition against performing labour during chol hamoed, and one may dismantle only after it is clear that he will not need it again.

(Shoel uMeishiv IV 3:28; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 67:footnote 177; Piskei Teshuvot 637:1, 638:3; Chevel Nachalato 4:16)

חג סוכות שמח,

Mordechai

Preventing loss on chol hamoed

Hi,

In general, business is prohibited on Chol haMoed (the intermediate Days of holidays); commerce is stressful, and it takes away from one's concentration on the holiday. However, one may engage in business for the sake of preventing loss of existing assets (as opposed to taking advantage of an opportunity for profit).

The same is true regarding taking care of one's property. Thus one may water plants, if the alternative is that they will die.

However, even when engaging in such licensed activity, one must do it in a manner which will not involve great strain.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 537:1-2)

מועדים לשמחה,
Mordechai

Laundry on chol hamoed

Hi,

We care a great deal about setting the proper tone for holidays, to the
point that the sages created certain decrees to ensure that we would
prepare appropriately before the holiday.

One may not do laundry on Chol haMoed (the middle days of the holiday). This law is intended to encourage people to do laundry before the holiday, so that they then enter the holiday with a clean home and with clean clothes. Similarly, one is not to take a haircut during Chol haMoed - one should enter the holiday well-groomed.

There are exceptions to the rule prohibiting laundry. The major exception is for clothing which will not last 8 days, so that laundering everything right before Yom Tov will not help. Example: Cloth diapers, or other baby clothing which gets dirty with similar frequency. One must still launder as much as possible before the holiday, but in the event of need one may launder it during Chol haMoed, too. One should do so in private.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 534:1; Mishneh Berurah 534:7)

מועדים לשמחה,
Mordechai

Gardening on chol hamoed

Hi,

One may not prepare a garden for seeding or planting on chol hamoed, and one may not prune a tree on chol hamoed.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 537:10-11)

מועדים לשמחה,
Mordechai

Building a succah during chol hamoed

Hi,

One who did not build a succah before Succot may build it on chol hamoed. However, ideally, it should be done in an amateur [but safe!] way, rather than professionally, to honour chol hamoed.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 637:1; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 67)

מועדים לשמחה,
Mordechai

Dismantling a Succah

Hi,

I am leaving town for the last days of Succos; may I dismantle my succah during chol hamoed?

There are three concerns involved in dismantling a succah on chol hamoed:

1. Performing labour during chol hamoed for a non-Yom Tov purpose;
2. Degrading the sanctity of the succah materials;
3. The possibility that one might need the succah again.

Because of these concerns, we do not dismantle a succah on chol hamoed. However, one may dismantle a succah if its materials are needed for another succah at one's destination. Also, one may remove succah decorations if he is concerned that they might be damaged before his return.

What if one needs to build a succah during chol hamoed for temporary use, e.g. camping? One should declare before building the succah that he intends to dismantle it during chol hamoed. However, even in such a case one may dismantle it only in an amateur way, lest he violate the prohibition against performing labour during chol hamoed, and one may dismantle only after it is clear that he will not need it again.

(Shoel uMeishiv IV 3:28; Shemirat Shabbat k'Hilchatah 67:footnote 177; Piskei Teshuvos 637:1, 638:3; Chevel Nachalaso 4:16)

Have a wonderful Yom Tov,

Mordechai

Polishing shoes on Chol haMoed

Hi,

One may polish shoes on chol hamoed to wear on chol hamoed or Yom Tov, but only with a normal level of polishing, not in an "extra-fine" way.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:36:4)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Buying in bulk on chol hamoed

Hi,

One may purchase Yom Tov needs on chol hamoed, but one may not purchase more than is needed.

One may purchase more than his immediate need if:
1) It is possible that this could become necessary on chol hamoed, or
2) Buying a larger quantity would provide a discount.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:36:2-3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Laundry on Chol haMoed

Hi,

When a small stain occurs on a garment, one may clean it on chol hamoed; this is not the type of cleaning forbidden on chol hamoed.

One should not give a garment to someone else to clean, even if that person is not a professional. However, one may do so within a spousal, parental or teacher-student relationship, if the cleaning will not be done professionally.

[Rav Moshe does not explicitly limit this to cleaning for use on chol hamoed or yom tov, but it seems reasonable to assume that this is the case.]

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:36:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The Chol haMoed amidah

Hi,

One who recites the Yom Tov amidah instead of the Chol haMoed amidah at a prayer other than Musaf on Chol haMoed is required to repeat the amidah; this does not fulfill his obligation.

One who recites Musaf for Chol haMoed on Shabbat Chol haMoed, and who neglects to mention Shabbat, must repeat the amidah. One who mentioned Shabbat during the berachah, but did not recite the pesukim which list the Shabbat korbanot and only recited the pesukim which list the Yom Tov korbanot, must repeat the amidah.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 4:21:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Dental appointments on Chol haMoed

Hi,

One may go to the dentist on Chol haMoed only to treat a problem which involves some pain; routine maintenance is considered the dentist's work, and should not be scheduled for Chol haMoed.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:78)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Fixing items on Chol haMoed

Hi,

One may fix prescription eyeglasses, and sunglasses which serve a medical purpose, on Chol haMoed. One may not fix sunglasses which are worn purely for enjoyment.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 3:78)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Keriah on Chol haMoed

Hi,

If a burial takes place on the second day of Yom Tov, then mourners do not tear keriah until after the entire Yom Tov (including intervening chol hamoed days) concludes.

If a burial takes place on chol hamoed, though, then one tears keriah during the funeral on chol hamoed.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:164)

Have a good day,
Mordechai

Shaving on Chol haMoed

Hi,

In lands where people shave daily or near-daily, one who is required to shave due to discomfort or other needs may do so. One should not protest against a person who shaves just for aesthetic reasons.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 1:163)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Business on Chol haMoed

Hi,

In general, business is prohibited on Chol haMoed (the Intermediate Days of holidays); it is stressful, and it takes away from one's concentration on the holiday. However, one may engage in business for the sake of preventing loss. One should minimize the strain involved, though.

The same is true regarding taking care of one's property. Thus one may water plants, if the alternative is that they will die, but one must do it in a manner which will not involve great strain.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 537:1-2)

Have a great Moed,
Mordechai

Laundry on Chol haMoed

Hi,

One may not do laundry on Chol haMoed (the intermediate days of holidays). This law is intended to encourage people to do laundry before the holiday, so that they will enter the holiday with a clean home and with clean clothes.

There are exceptions to this rule. The major exception is for clothing which will not last 8 days, so that laundering everything right before Yom Tov will not help. Example: Cloth diapers, or other baby clothing which gets dirty with similar frequency. One must still launder as much as possible before the holiday, but in the event of need one may launder it during the Intermediate Days, too.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 534:1; Mishneh Berurah 534:7)

Have a great Moed,
Mordechai

Planting aravot

Hi,

One who wishes to plant his Aravot [the willow branches held with the Lulav] (and this is most commendable; the more bushes around, the merrier!) should not do so on Chol haMoed, because one is not supposed to plant on Chol haMoed. One may put the base of the Aravot in a water-filled receptacle, and plant them after Yom Tov.

Moadim l'Simchah,
Mordechai