Writing, Renting an Apartment, Additions to the Prayers and Other Chol Hamoed Laws

1. Writing on chol hamoed: Some are stringent not to write at all on chol hamoed. However, the law permits writing simple things on chol hamoed, such as: letters to friends, notes with reminders, etc. But if a person has long accounts or Torah thoughts that he wants to write down and edit in an orderly fashion — it is forbidden. It is forbidden to even write one letter of a Torah scroll (because this is considered craftsmanship which according to all views in forbidden on chol hamoed). If a community has no other Torah scroll, then they may write or fix the Torah scroll because otherwise it is a loss for the community.

2. Typing and printing. One may type on a computer and print on a printer. One may take pictures of oneself. But one may only develop pictures after the holiday.

3. Renting an apartment. One may rent an apartment on chol hamoed and write a rental contract as usual, because there is a concern that if one delays someone else may come and rent it. However, it is forbidden to move to a new apartment unless one is moving from a rented apartment to his own apartment, in which case he’ll suffer a financial loss if he remains in a rented apartment.

4. Additions to the prayers. One should be careful not to forget to say Ya’aleh v’Yovoh in the prayers and Grace After Meals during chol hamoed. If one forgot it in Grace After Meals, he doesn’t have to recite Grace After Meals again. But if one forgot to say it during prayers (including the evening prayer) as long as he didn’t finish the Shemoneh Esreh, he returns to Retzeh and says Yaaleh v’Yovoh. But if he finished the Shemoneh Esreh, he has to repeat Shemoneh Esrah and include it. 

5. Increasing Torah study. “The festivals were only given to the Jewish people so they could occupy themselves with Torah.” It is praiseworthy for all synagogue sextons to organize extra Torah lectures during these days, and even better if they organize a day-long Torah marathon where the public can come and here inspiring words of Torah from Torah scholars from morning until evening. After a day like this, they will doubtless feel inspired to fulfill the holiday commandments with excitement and exhilaration.