For donations Click Here

Cooking from Chol Ha-Mo’ed for After Yom Tov

Someone is making a bris on isro chag and will have limited time to prepare for the seudah. May they cook the food on Chol HaMoed davka for the seudah that will take place after the moed?

Answer:

It is permitted to make the preparations, but these should be done in a way that one can benefit from the food on Yom Tov.

Sources:

It is generally permitted to perform acts of labor that do not detract from the atmosphere of Chol Ha-Moed: There is therefore no prohibition of muktzeh on Chol Ha-Moed, and many poskim are lenient concerning acts of labor that do not involve great effort, even where the acts are not required for purpose of the festival (Terumas Ha-Deshen no. 153).

However, there are poskim who dispute this and permit even minor acts of labor only for the purpose of a festival need (see Shut Radbaz no. 727).

See also Beis Yosef and the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 536), who write that it is permitted to ride a horse on Chol Ha-Moed even where there is no festival need for so doing, the Mishnah Berurah explaining that the decree against riding was not made on Chol Ha-Moed.

Thus, there is room for leniency in cooking, which is a minor labor, but in deference to the stringent authorities one should ensure that it is possible to benefit from the food on Yom Tov, too.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *