Question:
Hello, I feel terribly. I did laundry on Rosh Chodesh not realizing the day. I actually do not have the custom of not doing so (I am new to this) and am not married and used a washing machine vs hand washed but I still feel badly. I was doing some reading and see that some say it is a custom not a law, and that some say it does not apply now. But I find this confusing. So, if a custom for some, does that mean it is acceptable? If not, is do the clothes need to be rewashed? Anything else to do? Thank you very much.
Answer:
As you so correctly wrote, there is a minhag that many women do not to certain melachos on Rosh Chodesh, and one of them is not doing laundry. There is controversy if this applies to doing laundry in a washing machine. Most poskim say not to, however some poskim say that since it doesn’t involve a lot of work that it is permitted. In retrospect if you already did it, there is no need to rewash the clothing etc. Additionally, the woman can put the laundry in the machine and her husband or another man can turn it on.
Best wishes
Sources:
O:CH 417-1, M:B 417-4, Biur Halacha 47 D:H V’hanashim. Those who strict regarding using a mashing machine – Emes L’Yackov ftnt. 417, Mivakshei Torah 3 pg. 326 in the name of R’ Eliyashv zt”l and pg. 235 quoting R’ Chaim Kanievsky shlit”a, Halichos Bas Yisroel 15 ftnt. 4, Taarich Yisroel 3-ftnt. 42 quoting R’ Sheinberg zt”l, Chut Shani Shabbos 4pg. 318. This is also written in the name of R’ E. Auerbach shlit”a. On the other hand see Halichos Shlomo )Rosh Chodesh) 1 ftnt 34, Shevet Hakehosi 1-135, Rivivos Efrayim 3 298, who permit it.
Thank you. As a follow-up though, I am new to minhag vs. law. So, is my understanding correct that there is nothing actually *wrong* with doing laundry? Just that some women in some communities choose not to?
It is more than just “some women in some communities” but a minhag that is brought in the Shulchan aruch and agrred upon by the Rema. Nevertheless there are places that don’t have the minhag.
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