Daf HaYomi B'Halacha Daily Email

Melacha for non-food purposes

Based on the strict interpretation of the pasuk, melacha would only be permitted on Yom Tov for direct food preparation. Nonetheless, Chazal extended the leniency to include melacha for other Yom Tov needs. This extension of the coverage of the leniency is known as mitoch. Mitoch applies to the melachos of lighting a fire, shechitah, cooking, baking and carrying into a reshus harabim. The poskim disagree about whether mitoch can be applied to other melachos. Melacha is only allowed on Yom Tov for universally accepted needs. Needs that are exclusive to wealthy, finicky or sick (with a non-life-threatening illness) people are not included in this category.

4ו 2 שו"ע תקיח, א, ומשנ"ב א; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו

Melacha for the sake of a mitzvah

According to some Rishonim, the concept of mitoch allows for melacha to be done even when it is not necessary for Yom Tov. Nevertheless, it is forbidden mid’rabonon to do melacha for a weekday need. Most Rishonim maintain that melacha that is not done for the sake of Yom Tov is forbidden mid’oraisa. The halacha follows this opinion. Yom Tov needs include mitzvah needs and oneg Yom Tov. Some poskim allow melacha on Yom Tov to prevent financial loss, while others are stringent.

שו"ע תקיח, א, משנ"ב א, ג, ד, ה ו־ו, וביה"ל ד"ה מתוך

Carrying a lulav in a reshus harabim

Any mitzvah article that is necessary for the performance of a mitzvah on Yom Tov may be carried in a reshus harabim. Examples include carrying a shofar on Rosh Hashonah, daled minim on Sukkos, or a sefer Torah for krias haTorah. Likewise, one may carry seforim to aid a person in his learning. Most opinions allow the carrying of daled minim or a shofar for a woman to fulfill the mitzvah, even though she is not obligated in these mitzvos. Carrying for hidur mitzvah is also permitted. For example, a person may carry multiple esrogim to fulfill the mitzvah if he is unsure about which type is preferable.

6 משנ"ב תקיח, ד, וביה"ל ד"ה וספר, וד"ה הצריכין; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו

Food (that is necessary for Yom Tov) may be purchased on Yom Tov, provided that a price is not mentioned and there is no transfer of money. If the seller is a non-Jew, the buyer may not show him where his money is located in order to have him take the payment for himself.

A non-Jew may not be asked to make a purchase in a forbidden manner (see above) for a Jew. If the non-Jew did make the purchase, the Jew may use the item b’dieved.

If a non-Jew performs a melacha for himself, a Jew may benefit from his action. According to some opinions, however, if he prepares a food which is very enjoyable, a Jew may not eat that food.

Carrying a watch on Yom Tov

Eiruv chatzeiros

Making an eiruv for Yom Tov

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.