Q&A: In Principle but Not as Practical Ruling: Is It Permissible to Renovate the Business During Chol HaMoed?
In Principle but Not as Practical Ruling: Is It Permissible to Renovate the Business During Chol HaMoed?
Question
Hello and good evening, Rabbi Michi,
Is it permissible to renovate the business during Chol HaMoed? These days the business is closed anyway, and renovating on regular weekdays would involve a very significant financial loss.
Answer
A case of financial loss is permitted during Chol HaMoed. See an overview here: https://ph.yhb.org.il/12-12-02/
However, he is correct that one should distinguish between preventing profit and an actual loss. If someone offers you double wages, you may not work on Chol HaMoed, because that is prevented profit and not a loss. But here it needs to be considered whether this is prevented profit or a loss. I am inclined to think that this is a loss, since you would lose the income from the work you will have in the future, and this is not merely the loss of income from work on Chol HaMoed itself.
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