Time for Binding the Lulav — When Sukkot Falls on Shabbat

When the first day of Sukkot falls on Shabbat, when is it preferable lechatchilah to bind the lulav (the Four Species): on Friday, Erev Shabbat, or on Sunday? On the one hand, on Sunday the Four Species will be fresher for taking; on the other hand, is there a problem of performing melachah on Chol HaMoed?

Shalom u’vrachah 

There is no prohibition of melachah in binding a lulav on Chol HaMoed, since this is a non-professional act done for the needs of the festival. 

Indeed, a person is forbidden to deliberately schedule his work for Chol HaMoed; however, if there is an advantage in terms of the freshness of the Four Species, one may lechatchilah postpone the tying until Chol HaMoed. 

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