Writing on Hol HaMoed
Ready for joy,
Is it permissible to write on a holiday even when the writing is not done at all for the holiday and does not constitute a “deed of loss”?
not.
Is the same true for writing on a computer?
In my opinion, no. Writing on a computer is not writing and does not exist in the conventional sense (but in memory). I think it is more similar to speech than to writing. It is certainly not the work of a craftsman.
It is commonly thought that this is writing that is the work of a layman and not a craftsman, but as mentioned, I doubt whether it even qualifies as writing. See here: http://ph.yhb.org.il/12-11-13/
According to this, would it be forbidden to type on WhatsApp during the verses of the Zimra (or at another time when it is forbidden to pause speech)?
Perhaps we could say that it is like contemplation. Another note on the obligation to recite the Birkat HaTorah blessing before writing Torah verses on the computer.
I think it is speech and not reflection. Reflection is put into practice here in action. And indeed it would be a break like speech. Perhaps one could divide and say that only ordinary speech constitutes a break between speech and speech, but simply not.
Regarding the Torah blessing, it seems simple to me. According to the method of the Gracious One, the blessing is also given for reflection, but here, for the sake of the law, it is a break like speech and so on.
If it's like talking, then maybe we can type the verses of Dzimra into WhatsApp and get a good result.
I think you understand why this won't work.
And if writing is like speech, then somehow it is also possible in regular writing. See for example here:
http://olamot.net/shiur/%D7%9B%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%91%D7%94-%D7%9B%D7%93%D7%99%D7%91%D7%95%D7%A8
See there that even if writing is like speech, it does not necessarily mean that it is the same in every way.
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