Work on a Holiday in Case of Loss for a Mourner During the Seven Days
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Question
If someone's brother passed away during Chol HaMoed, is it permitted to work in a case of loss during these days?
Answer
He is permitted to work in any case of loss that is allowed during Chol HaMoed. Work for the needs of the festival that is not a case of loss can be done by others in their homes or discreetly in his home. (Household tasks such as cooking, baking, and cleaning the house are not considered work in terms of mourning)
Source
As written by the Beit Yosef in the name of Rabbeinu Yerucham: "The days remaining from the festival after the burial of the deceased have the same status regarding permissible work on the festival as the seven days of mourning, where work is done by others, meaning in their homes, but not in his home, and only if it is not a case of loss, but in a case of loss, he himself does the work, and his servants and maidservants work discreetly in his home, as his servants and maidservants were not prohibited." This is also ruled by the Rema, Siman 399, paragraph 2: "And all work permitted to him on the festival in a case of loss is permitted to be done by himself; and if it is not a case of loss, it is done by others in their homes, and his servants and maidservants work discreetly in his home." And what I wrote that household tasks are not considered work in terms of mourning is explained in the Shulchan Aruch, Siman 380, paragraph 22: "Respect for the home, washing dishes, and making beds are not considered work for a mourner; likewise, a woman is permitted to bake and cook during her days of mourning."
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