Q&A: Programming on Chol HaMoed
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Programming on Chol HaMoed
Question
Hello Rabbi, and happy festival.
Is it permitted to program (write code) on Chol HaMoed just for fun?
And if it is forbidden, then in a case where I received a take-home test in order to be accepted for a job in the field, could that be considered prevention of loss and therefore be permitted?
Thank you very much.
Answer
If your being accepted for the job depends on it, then that is certainly prevention of loss.
If you are writing just for fun, it seems obvious to me that it is permitted. Especially since, in my view, there is considerable doubt whether writing on a computer is included in the prohibition of writing on Chol HaMoed.