Melachos that are forbidden on Yom Tov

On Yom Tov it is permissible to do melachah that is necessary for food preparation. This is known as meleches ochel nefesh. An exception to this rule is any melachah that is generally done in large quantities for use over an extended period of time. Examples of such melachos include planting, plowing, harvesting, threshing and trapping. Some Rishonim understand that these melachos are only forbidden mid’rabonon, and that the prohibitions were designed to prevent people from spending Yom Tov working instead of enjoying the day. Shulchon Aruch rules according to this view. Others hold that these melachos are forbidden min haTorah. Many later Achronim follow this opinion.

[ שו"ע תצה, ב, משנ"ב יא ו־יג, ושעה"צ יח; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 18-17]

Animals resting on Yom Tov

The Torah states that on Shabbos a person is obligated to see to it that his animal rests and does not do any melachah . This concept is known as shvisas behemto . There is an additional prohibition against working together with an animal. This rule applies even if one does not own the animal.  Rema rules that the rule of shvisas behemto does not apply on Yom Tov . Nonetheless, it is still forbidden mid’rabonon for an animal to be used to carry a load on Yom Tov. Chazal enacted this prohibition either because it is a weekday activity or because of the general prohibition against using animals on Shabbos and Yom Tov. Other Achronim disagree, holding that the Torah prohibitions against having an animal do melachah apply equally on Shabbos and Yom Tov.

[ שו"ע תצה, ג, משנ"ב יד, ושעה"צ יט, כ ו־כב; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 20 ;וראה ב"י וב"ח שם]

Muktzeh on Yom Tov

There is a disagreement in the Gemara about whether a muktzeh item may be used or eaten on Shabbos or Yom Tov . Muktzeh in this context refers to an item that was designated for a specific use but is desired for a different function on Shabbos or Yom Tov. An example would be a case in which someone designated a food to be sold as merchandise, but then changed his mind on Shabbos or Yom Tov and wants to eat it instead. On Shabbos the halacha follows the lenient opinion, and muktzeh is permissible in such a case. On Yom Tov, however, some Rishonim rule according to the strict view and forbid muktzeh . They explain that because more melachos are permitted on Yom Tov than on Shabbos (due to the rule that melachos for ochel nefesh may be performed), it is necessary to be more stringent when it comes to muktzeh so that people will not make light of the severity of doing melachah on Yom Tov. Shulchon Aruch rules according to this view. Other Rishonim do not agree with this distinction and issue a uniform ruling that muktzeh is permitted both on Shabbos and Yom Tov. Rema follows this opinion. However, he quotes an opinion that although muktzeh is generally permitted, it is forbidden to use something that is nolad--“born”-- on Yom Tov. Nolad refers to items which did not exist before Yom Tov. This category includes items which were not visible at the onset of Yom Tov. For example, after eating a piece of meat or chicken, it would be forbidden to move the bones in order to feed a dog, since those bones were not revealed before Yom Tov. Other opinions permit nolad on Yom Tov. Mishnah Berurah, however, rules according to the opinion that muktzeh is permitted and nolad is forbidden.

[ שו"ע תצה, ד, ומשנ"ב טו-יז; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו]

PLEASE NOTE: The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.

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