---
title: Siman 530 – General rules
description: "וChelek 6 1. There are 5 categories of melachos that are allowed on Chol Hamoed: 1. Financial loss if not done. 2. Ochel Nefesh - even professional jobs. 3. Tzorchay Moed - only amateur jobs. 4. A poor worker with…"
url: "https://mishnaberurasummaries.com/docs/siman-530-general-rules/"
updated: "2026-08-16"
category: Laws of Chol Hamoed
---

# Siman 530 – General rules

וChelek 6

1. There are 5 categories of melachos that are allowed on Chol Hamoed:
   1. Financial loss if not done.
   2. Ochel Nefesh - even professional jobs.
   3. Tzorchay Moed - only amateur jobs.
   4. A poor worker with nothing to eat.
   5. Public needs - Be careful not to be lenient beyond what Chazal allowed. (MB )

1. The Rishonim dispute - is melacha forbidden on Chol Hamoed mid’oraisa or mid’rabbonon. Even though the Shulchan Aruch takes on that it is mid’rabbonon - do not be quick to be lenient in a case of sofek melacha except in great need. (BeH “umutar”)

1. You need to honor Chol Hamoed with clean clothes and special food and drinks. The Maharil would don a Shabbos garment. Also, there is a mitzva of simcha on Chol Hamoed. (MB )

1. It is forbidden to fast on Chol Hamoed. L’chatchila you should have a bread meal once by night and once by day. However, since bread is not an obligation as it is on Yom Tov - do not repeat Birkas Hamazon if you forgot Ya’aleh V’yavoh. (MB  - ShaH 4)

1. The reason why it is forbidden to do melacha on Chol Hamoed is so we should spend our time eating and drinking and delving into the Torah - thereby cleaving to His fear and love. If this leisure time is spent fooling around instead, it is worse than doing melacha. (MB ) #

## Key

**ShA**
 : Shulchan Aruch

**MB**
 : Mishna Berura

**ShaH**
 : Shaar Hatsiun

**ShaT**
 : Shaaray Teshuva

**BeH**
 : Beur Halacha

**BaH**
 : Baer Haytayv

  [← PreviousSiman 508Cracking nuts](https://mishnaberurasummaries.com/docs/siman-508/)[Next →Siman 531Haircuts on Chol Hamoed](https://mishnaberurasummaries.com/docs/siman-531-haircuts-on-chol-hamoed/)

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