Writing On Chol Hamoed - Rabbi Yakov Zev Smith

[clears throat] >> I'd like to welcome everyone to today's share from our vehicles as mishli on DNX So he shares news with us recently of uh Zelfriend we remember must email Alta dear bus not another not another last column you'll tell us three year of Nissan. So also learning in the nishmas um Aisha Raisa of Isaac last column zero says also three year of Nissan tennis with same So this was our time that we sponsored in share call you and share a time at 718-851-8651 email [email protected] and also may The desire college says everything needs muscle even a safer person needs muscle. I always I'm afraid to say this that column might be a slow muscle doesn't have a muscle. Column might always comes after big young div after Sukis the Hanukkah Sukis if you have time to learn a lot of Sukis meaning and then you have column might when you have time to learn column might Pesach weeks of Hanukkah and learning who has time column might So I want to try today do what the Bella Yoya tries and he says I Yoya and I say he's if he if he cherishes his life should make time make sure to learn column might you have to know what to do. I will talk about the regular shylas about writing writing a shopping list writing Torah um any type of writing writing a check writing a receipt >> [clears throat] >> and of course the more contemporary questions which is a Sugya for itself and that is the new phenomenon who writes today who has a pen today it's computer ATM photostat and uh all over this writing you you pick up a phone and you you don't no longer rotary phone you write numbers is that considered receiver So basically we have Stein She a really one you saw it. >> [clears throat] >> The Mishnah in my cotton the end of that is base gives us a very good insight into the whole Sugya. Zukta Mishnah in question coin the might You can't write a IOU on on column might. Zukta fast that's really a hidden because it's a lot of base on the more of a base sir You know how to lend money either without a this or that a star. So we could even consider that writing a star is somewhat of a mitzvah. So why is it also column might? But the Mishnah continues in question swarm till the muscles you can't even write what we call star even though it's Kadusha save a third of them are Kadusha at my but still the column might is also Kadusha can't write a column might save a third of them are muscles and the third example is probably the biggest hidden and that is a Mayan I feel the safer Ezra and that's the gear sub but Rashi feels the gear say is a Mayan I feel the safer Azor Zuk Rashi there was a safer Torah that was kept in the Azora that was the most authentic it was the most accurate safer Torah that had everything right. That was the model that you wanted in the right of safer Torah you follow that the safer as in the Azora with the hay that was the safer Torah Azor So it had to be very authoritative it had to be very accurate and now there's a mistake So you talk about a Sakana to the accuracy of the Torah Zukta Mishnah nothing doing you can't correct it and the Mishnah the Mishnah quotes this in our Siman Siman tough mem hay and Mr. makes a point of saying even if you don't write even one letter So what are you doing? So let's say they wrote by mistake they wrote it with race instead of a dollar >> [clears throat] >> that's also you're not allowed to correct So we definitely see what it means writing a column might is absolutely awesome but the mice are we have to take a giant step now because we have a giant agenda So basically to go straight to a lot of mice are we know the Mishnah that very much limits writing a column might even save a third of them are Azor even a even just a partial letter but we also know there are certain that are motor on column might >> [clears throat] >> So to make a long story short it's really very simple when it comes to writing regular writing we'll soon see as opposed to a skilled craftsman which you can call an omen but a regular mice ahead it that me and you do when we write a shopping list or write a check we don't write calligraphy we don't write I see safer Torah >> [clears throat] >> So we write out any type of writing that's called a mice ahead it not that the person is ahead it but he's not it's not professional >> [clears throat] >> Ksav Mashita is called in poison So that when it's a Torah might you're allowed to write So [clears throat] a combination of regular mice ahead it and also that the purpose is for a Torah might That's [clears throat] the basic law in Siman tough mem tough mem alpha got to be all my luck is but in our Siman this is the of tough mem hay >> [clears throat] >> Why did Allah allow writing if see this is also column might So evidently [clears throat] since the mice are column might is not young div there are more time than a young div So said if it's young div Torah might it's good enough >> [clears throat] >> So that's the a good example and I'll give you a better example and that will also explain another mistake >> [clears throat] >> The Mishnah in the top of you I'm a base in my cotton allows writing a garish resource What is a garish resource? So the way the reef rush Rambam Torah you shall me all explain a garish resource is when a person writes in the garish column He writes a friendly letter to his friend. >> [clears throat] >> Zukta Mishnah one of the Mishnah who asked Mishnah similar base Why is a garish column motor column might The terrorist what are you doing you're trying to show a certain friendship a certain of You want to give someone Simcha you afraid your heart Zukta Mishnah almost about you you want to give him Simcha about Simcha you're allowed to write in a column might Good. [clears throat] So therefore a garish resource says the Mishnah in our Siman tough mem hay is motor Zukta Mishnah why is it motor? There's a passion It's our combination It's only a mice ahead it's not you're not using calligraphy and you doing it Torah column might Now wait a [clears throat] second if that's the case So why is writing a star also It's also you're not making you're not writing a get you're writing a star which is mice ahead it's Torah column might And the answer is you're right. If you look at the Mishnah the reason why you can't write a star is because you can write it after young div you can wait left young div So if it's not a Torah might because you could wait you might have to wait But talk of the Mishnah says in tough hay see above if you have to write a star you need the money on column might to buy it a young div So then it is a Torah might then writing a IOU is not worse than writing in a garish column and it's motor So basically we have you say it all of for mice ahead it will soon touch with that means mice ahead it is motor Torah column might But now the question is how about if it's if it's a mice omen What is a mice omen? Let's look back at the Mishnah. in question swarm till the muscles Why not? The terrorist because unless you're a cipher you cannot write a cipher it's a special skill you need an artist you need someone that's trained you need a craftsman So Hazal understood a mice omen is also even a Torah might because it's more of a mice omen Torah Now if you look at the mice omen there are two parts that distinguish it as a mice omen Number one you need a cipher you can't just get up and write you have to practice and number two the tight saw is a very is much a quality work So mice omen you need a Torah of an omen number one and you need a tight saw it's a beautiful work So this is why it's a much more of a Torah and it's not motor Torah might When is it motor? Only if it's a of what something that you if you don't do it you're going to lose or it's a Torah of a rabbit Hazal are not Torah rabbit a wonderful example the Mishnah in see base says this If let's say you have a show that has no safer Torah except for one that's needs more correction is mistake So even though you're not in my gear Hazal that's because you could wait left young div But if you have a rabbit don't have a safer Torah to learn on young div you're allowed to correct the safer Torah This is called a Torah a Torah of a rabbit and it's motor even a mice omen another example and this is a of it the Shukhan the Mishnah based on the Mishnah says you're allowed you're allowed to write up a get for someone that wants to give a get Now the way Rashi explains says it's more clearly A person that's willing to give a get today he might change his mind tomorrow. So even though now he says you know what we could wait left young div it's not it's not urgent don't trust him because if he runs away then it's an akuna. So, the Mishnah is saying a get is a dover over because he might change his mind. So, even though he's cooperating now, you never know what's going to be. So, that would be a dover over. It's muter even though say if it's even though a get needs a safrus writing, but it's a dover over it's of protect the a loss. So, the over briefly what we have First of all, I should mention hol hamoyed is more moyed than hol. Don't forget. Hazal were very makpid with hol hamoyed. But, basically it's muter a maiseh heged. We'll give examples it's muter moyed, but if it's a maiseh uman, then it's much more limited. It's only muter if it's rabbin and or a dover over. So, let's talk maiseh. A person wants to make a shopping list for the last days hol hamoyed is the only time to do it. So, obviously can't do it after Yom Tov. So, this would be our combination. It's a tzarich moyed and it's a maiseh heged. This may be a hol hamoyed after the finish. People often ask do you need a shinui when you write your shopping list? So, the emphasis in smara if it's Mishnah it's muter because it's moyed, so why need a shinui for and that's true. The only issue is the in Seif Zion says that some feel that our and our ksiva mashis is called might be a maiseh uman. For a different reason. So, the Michtav explains even though we pasken not like that that's that this is considered a ksiva of a uman, but some have a they make a shinui. In other words, really as the says in Zion when something is shinui doesn't help. When something is muter, you don't need a shinui. When something is questionable, the Michtav Mishnah our Michtav So, some go the extra mile and they make a shinui. Now, what does a shinui mean? So, some people write with their left hand then not only the one that shopping can't read even they can't read. So, what are you gaining? So, the Michtav says that the the shinui does not have to be to write something illegible, but make the first line on a slant. Just to make a statement it's hol hamoyed. I'm aware it's hol hamoyed. I'm going to try to do the best I can. So, even though when you need a but the Michtav require a shinui, you have to write every line slanting. One line, the top line is enough. Michtav Mishnah Mishnah Mishnah this cuz Mishnah our writing is not uman. So, he says the some do it, but you could write Michtav Mishnah our writing in English or Yiddish whatever it is without a shinui. The Michtav write the top line and that's fine the way it is. Good. Let's move on to another which is also obviously important and that is the very common question when a child wants to color or wants to scribble wants to write. So, one thing we have to understand is going to be as we proceed in all of the Mishnah Mishnah Mishnah Mishnah is after writing a article. The Mishnah says Mishnah in Seif Katan and Zion quotes it twice. Mishnah is someone makes a picture is also ksiva. Ksiva is after lettering. Ksiva is something that of significance. So, writing, numbers and pictures, drawings is also ksiva. So, now the is a child wants to color, so that might be like Mishnah. But, [clears throat] the answer the answer to that is wait a second. It has our combination. The child is no artist, so it's a maiseh heged and Mishnah it's moyed. He wants to enjoy coloring. And that's why I saw the a number of places say this that this is considered moyed. Don't forget the Mishnah Seif says children allowed to play ball on Yom Tov even though we don't carry Mishnah, but but Mishnah playing is Mishnah. So, drawing, recreation is Mishnah. And that's why all the point out that a child is allowed to draw that's considered of the moyed and a maiseh heged. Now, some question what where's the Mishnah? Cuz the Mishnah when he's older he's not going to going to be able to color. But, the answer is true, but right now he's a katan. So, hopefully he won't do that when he's older. But, now if it's considered moyed for him, so why is that muter? The only thing I saw very einfal the Mishnah Mishnah he's comes from a different angle why coloring is a problem. Because writing is writing, but coloring the child in his limited uh capabilities for the child coloring is a maiseh uman. He's trying to be a well, he's a an artist. Of course, the child is artist, but he's trying to simulate he's trying to be like a childish artist. So, maybe the actual coloring is always considered a maiseh uman. Okay, if you like this fine. I think the understood that he's not trying to be an artist trying to have some fun. So, it's not a maiseh uman. The only issue we could say is which might be more of a to be cuz the typical coloring book comes with the outline. Basically the border and you just fill it in. So, could be you could look at the picture before he draws it's it's written already. Because the outline is there. We don't have such a so, I'll tell you very good so. When when it's written, so they try to leave the last lettering for the for those that want to give money give money whatever it is. So, the typically will write the borders the outline before before Yom Tov. And if they have to give it a right away is better to write before Yom Tov. That's better. But, let's say they left out a few lettering, so there are those that are as long as the outline was made before Yom Tov because it's considered and then and our says this. If the if the actual letter itself the border was there, so filling in is only secondary. So, the this is why I think the is to allow a child to color. Now, someone feels that let my child have a nice fine. I can understand that. But, it's to write and to color on hol hamoyed. The in says what the child scribbles is scribbling is not artist not artist and it's not writing. A puzzle or Scrabble this ready for adults. So, the Mishnah Mishnah Mishnah says a a Scrabble that you just put the letter in one next to the other, but you don't put it in a frame is not ksiva. Cuz it has no permanence, but if you put it into a frame or a puzzle goes into a frame and it stays, that's also on Shabbos ksiva. Someone that makes a nice puzzle with a picture is Mishnah. It's not just you put pieces next to the other, but it's interlocking and it's also supported by the frame. So, why should it be muter to make a puzzle? Why should it be muter to to play Scrabble? So, maybe it's not. But, there is a very important in our Seif Zion. The says muter Mishnah Mishnah Mishnah Mishnah. The introducing us to important and that's called Mishnah Mishnah. If the lettering does not last or as we'll soon see you don't make it to last, that's not ksiva. Now, even though on Shabbos Mishnah Mishnah is still with our at least, but it comes to hol hamoyed there's a special of Mishnah Mishnah Mishnah. And again, you have to realize Shabbos is Yom Tov is less than Shabbos is a love. Hol hamoyed is and much more than hol hamoyed than on Shabbos. So, here the Mishnah make this distinction that even though Mishnah Mishnah on Shabbos is not muter or Yom Tov is not muter, but hol hamoyed Mishnah Mishnah Mishnah would be muter. Now, the Michtav gives other examples which you don't have today, but I'll tell you an interesting example that is today and you see a little bit of an insight of what it means Mishnah Mishnah. The in the that's printed in the back of the on hol hamoyed or and it was asked question to us is strange, but it's still believe it or not. For those out of town communities that have what's called a day school as opposed to a yeshiva, they have school on hol hamoyed because the other option is not that they're going to go to to listen to a hol hamoyed. The children run around do nothing. And the whole the whole exposure to is so brief there's so little time that they give they have school day school on hol hamoyed. So, the first of all that's okay fine it is better than better than what they do there. But, then he said also you're allowed to write on the blackboard. See, a blackboard is Mishnah Mishnah. Now, the emphasis a blackboard if you don't touch it, it probably will last. But, the but the fact but the mere fact that you don't keep writing to keep every day is a new lesson a new blackboard. So, felt that would be Mishnah Mishnah. Now, the truth is the use the chalk is is basically a powder on the board. Who said it last that long? But even that's not his point. If you don't make it to stay, that would not be a problem on Chol HaMoed. So the Maaseh, the Posekim I saw the Be'er Moshe Chelek Zayin Siman Kuf Hey says, "Blackboard, Poshech Motar." Combination, Maaseh Hedyot and Tzorech Moed. But the Maaseh, the Be'er Moshe does add in other places spell this out. The Shmiras Shabbos says it as well. Even though the Cheftza it could last on a blackboard. But if you made it to erase, it doesn't have a Maaseh Uman to it. You see? It's not a Maaseh Uman if you're going to erase it till the next day. So the Shmiras Shabbos in Siman Vav Alef Kuf Tes also says a blackboard is okay. The Machazeh Eliyahu and other Posekim apply this to interesting example, and that is lettering on a cake. Let's say you have a birthday on Chol HaMoed or going into Yom Tov or you want to send a cake with a Siman Chazak Yom Tov inscription. So the Posekim say, that the Shmiras Shabbos says that Siman Vav Alef Kuf Tes, that writing lettering on cake would be Motar for two reasons. Number one, it has our combination. It's a Maaseh Hedyot. The way you do it. Unless you unless you have to have artistic work, but just the scribbling happy birthday is Maaseh Hedyot and also it's Tzorech Moed. Also some say it's an Exshevei She'eino Miskayemous. Because the Maaseh you're not going to keep it too much longer. So the Maaseh that's the Psak, the Machazeh Eliyahu says it in in Chelek Beis Amud Mem Zayin Amud Reish Mem Zayin he says it's Tlosa L'Tevusa, Maaseh Hedyot, Eino Miskayem, and Tzorech Tzorech Yom Tov. I did see a Chiddush that the Sefer HaKassav in Alef Kuf Samech Ches he says playing with a puzzle, even a puzzle that's a few hundred pieces, which is a Maaseh which you're doing and you're doing it nicely. He says but a puzzle by definition is Eino Miskayem. Because you don't put it up on the wall, you take it apart, you do it again. So there is a Tzaddik Meikel by Scrabble and or puzzles even though on Shabbos we're Machmir, but on Chol HaMoed we have a special Heter of Exshevei She'eino Miskayemous. Another important question I should mention is what's right on Chol HaMoed? That's something not for today's Shiur, but I should remind you what the Kol Mr. Berel quotes the Kol Boi. That this the quotes the Yerushalmi first, that the Yerushalmi says that really the only reason that they asked in Melacha is we should sit and learn. But now that people do things inappropriate for Chol HaMoed, it's better to do Melacha than do things inappropriate for Chol HaMoed. Mr. Berel quotes the Kol Boi that that the Issur of S'choik is more than Melacha because the Ba'al HaBayis want the Chol HaMoed should be a Moed. So again we're talking about games and I'm talking when it's appropriate of course, when it's not a Stirah D'Kedusha Shel Chol HaMoed, there is a Heter something that's a Eino Miskayemous. Another question, I had this question once. I was in a park with my children here right in in right over here in close by in in Prospect Park and someone asked me, there was a obviously he was an artist. He was a sketch actually, he was doing a sketch. He would do the he would have the family sit down and he would make a sketch of the whole family. Okay, and he charged guy it wasn't that expensive. So the fellow made a Cheshbon, you know, it'll keep the kids busy for a while and they'll go home and they'll be you know, it's worth it's a worthwhile investment. So you have a making a drawing a sketch of a family. Here there's a family. Is that Motar Chol HaMoed? So this is problem because the Maaseh this is a Maaseh Uman. I also say I'm not doing it, the is doing it. True. But the Machazeh Eliyahu says in no uncertain terms in Tof Kuf Mem Gimmel Seif Alef, Kol Davar She'Oseh She'Oseh What a Yid can't do, Assur L'Amel Any Yid L'Assos So up to Mr. Berel, Chazal made this this this Issur of Amirah L'Akum because Chazal wanted us to treat Chol HaMoed like a regular Yom Tov. So yes, there is an Issur Amirah L'Akum on Chol HaMoed. So Oi Vai Zoi, what should be the Heter? The is doing a Maaseh Uman. He's doing it for you. Now the Maaseh if the for some reason, which never happens come out, he first makes the picture without telling you and then he wants to sell to you. No, maybe that you don't do because he made it a Da'as Achid D'Nafshei. But this I talked about the Belzer Shulchan Aruch Levi Amud Kuf Mem Beis says, if the approaches you, "Should I do it?" So don't say, "Well, he's doing it for himself to make money." True. That's why he's doing it. He's not doing it L'Shmo. But he's doing it for you. So it's a Da'as Achid D'Yisrael. So this would be a problem of S'chiva D'Akum on Chol HaMoed. A very common question in many forms is writing a sign, a Ma'amar D'ah. For example, person had a baby is making a Kiddush, wants to put up a sign that there's change of the the schedule of the Shiurim or he's making a Shalom Zachar or a Shabbos Ha'Avodah. A person sitting down with a pen and paper and writing a sign of any sort. So the first Klal is which is obvious, that if you could do it on Erev Yom Tov or before Yom Tov, do it. I mean to put up a sign about a Mitzvah is wrong because you have 13 years to prepare for this, you know, you don't have to wait till Erev Yom on Chol HaMoed. But let's say you found an Aveidah or Aveidah L'Fire. So the Shmiras Shabbos in Siman Zayin Kuf Beis Daled in in the Levaya, I saw also other Posekim say this is something that that's not pre-preplanned, Avada it's Motar to put up a sign. We'll soon talk about printing it out with a computer, but let's talk about writing. Of course in that case you don't really need a Shinui. Unless you want to be Choshesh for the Sheetah that the Sheetah is like a Maaseh Uman. If someone found an Aveidah, so this is important to mention. When you find an Aveidah, the main [music] thing is put it up a sign right away. I People asked I said, "I found a I found something should I put up a sign?" I said, "When did you find it?" "Three months ago." What are you thinking? The fellow goes back day after day looking if there's a sign, no sign. You find an Aveidah, put up a sign. Take it from me out. The person hopefully will come back, he'll look for it, he'll find it. But here's the question, now it's Chol HaMoed, should I wait till after Yom Tov? The answer is no, don't. Because first of all the person will come back looking and there's no sign, maybe no one found it. Worse yet, he came just to be for his parent by his parents for Yom Tov. He's going back Motzei Yom Tov. You're going to put it up the next day? It's too late. And I talked to found probably half a dozen Posekim the Shmiras Shabbos, the Orchos Rabbeinu the disciple, and all say this Yisod. Shmiras Shabbos Kuf Ches says this as well, that if you have an Aveidah, put up a sign right away. That's the Frumkeit in his Shiurim in in Minchas Hopefully the fellow will come back, he'll look for it, he'll look for the sign. But don't wait till after Yom Tov to put up the sign, that's a Davar Avud which you don't even need. The real Heter is Tzorech Moed and a Maaseh Hedyot. Question, someone comes to your door, he rings the bell, registered mail. See it used to be also when they delivered packages, they want you to sign. But today since COVID they just drop it and run. So basically it's still Negaya if you have registered mail, they want you to sign. So the Emes says, if you need that mail or that package on Chol HaMoed or Yom Tov, we're back to the combination of Tzorech Moed and a Maaseh Hedyot. But if you feel uncomfortable, rather this always works to tell me, "No, it's my holiday today. I can't I can't sign this." So typically they'll say, "Well, I don't want to come back. Could I do it?" You could say you could do what you want. It's up to you. I can't do it. You could do what you want. If he decides to sign your name, first he has to know your name, that's Taka a Da'as Achid D'Nafshei. He's not doing it for you. He's doing it so he won't have to come back. So if he could if you could give the job to him and he's doing it for himself, that's a Da'as Achid D'Nafshei. But really you don't need that Heter. If you're signing at Tzorech Moed, it's a Tzorech Moed, a Maaseh Hedyot. If you want to make a a signature with a Shinui, and that's also good because they don't really check the the signatures. This would be a simple Heter of Tzorech Moed and a Maaseh Hedyot. Can a person write a check on Chol HaMoed? So the Emes says, a check when it's needed to buy something for Yom Tov, to give Tzedaka certainly, that would be a simple combination of Tzorech Moed and a Maaseh Hedyot. But I saw it's really Poshech that really the Heter of writing a check is a Din Mishna. Which Mishna? They didn't have checks in those days. They did have. They had something called a Shtar Chov. And the Mishna and the way the Shulchan Aruch learns up the Mishna, if you can't wait to write the Shtar Chov till after Yom Tov, you're allowed to write a Shtar Chov on Chol HaMoed because it's Exshevei Hedyot and it's a Tzorech of the of the Yom Tov. So a check if there's no if you don't have cash or you don't want to use your cash, if there's a reason why you want to write a check, a check is a regular Maaseh Hedyot and Tzorech Moed and Avada Motar. That's the Shmiras Shabbos Siman Vav Yod Alef. The Belzer Shulchan Shulchan Aruch Levi Amud Kuf Mem Daled adds, if you want to pay your worker Matnas S'char, you don't have the cash, it's also that's a Davar Mitzvah. The Debreciner Rav in Zayin Lamed Zayin and Rav Moshe in the back of the Chol HaMoed Sefer write writing a check for Tzedaka because now you want to give maybe after Yom Tov might even be Avud you might forget. And I must mention if the person wants a receipt, so the collector should give him a receipt. Writing a receipt is Motar. The same Tzorech Moed and a Maaseh Hedyot. So basically when something is needed to be written, that would be the regular Heter of a Tzorech Moed. The next group of questions is both fascinating and challenging and and I guess it's a Gishmack also. And that is this whole Sugya of writing today is almost irrelevant because who writes today? You know, we used to give it a muscle of a of a of a tzarich Yom Tov to write a tzarich Yom Tov that you allowed to write directions how to go to the to the to the amusement park. But today, directions, what do they mean? And who writes directions? Everything is the the GPS, a printout. So the shaila is, how do we translate all of our halachas of today to a whole new world that writing is on a screen, writing is is a picture on a screen, it's a printout, a telephone is no longer a rotary phone, you make a phone call, you have a bunch of numbers, and there's an email, and there's a fax, and there's countless shailas that are no longer writing with pen and paper. How do we look at the technology that has brought k'siva to a whole different level? So really the question is, number one, when I write, quote unquote, when I make a report, I'm writing a shtikel Torah on a on a computer. Is that k'siva? Before I print it out, is that considered k'siva because I'm putting it onto a computer? And the question number two is, let's say I have a beautiful picture. I was someplace that I saw like a the flowers I brought, I took a picture. It's mamash a masterpiece, the picture. And I have it on my computer. And someone comes to visit a wise man, you know what I'm going to give you a beautiful picture. You'll take it home, you'll it's gorgeous. And you make a printout of that picture. So think about it. It's just pressing a button. But what comes out? A masterful maaseh uman. It's a picture, it's a gorgeous picture. So the question in all of these is, how do we we apply hilchos k'siva taf kuf mem hey in Shulchan Aruch to the contemporary shailas of k'siva? So basically, there are two parts of every melacha. The pe'ulah, the action, and the tzo'ah. For example, a sofer, a sofer, the pe'ulah is writing with a sofrus. The tzo'ah is a masterful work, it's a sefer Torah. It always was both that made up a maaseh a maaseh uman. Now the shaila is, today we have a world, it's typical of the world we live in, the instant society. You press a button and you have everything you want instantly. So now we have that you could press a button that every child could do, and the outcome, the printout, is magnificent, maaseh uman. How do you look at k'siva in our society? Like the way the Chazon Ish puts it, you have a tziur muflas, a yedei chitas kafter. You press a button. Any child knows how to press a button. If you look at the pe'ulah, then a button is not a maaseh uman. If you look at the outcome, the tzo'ah, it very much is. >> [clears throat] >> How do you look at our k'siva in taf shin peh vov? So one thing I want to make a point, and this is pashet, on Shabbos, this has no bearing whatsoever. Shabbos is totally in melaches machsheves. So if you have two ice cubes that have meaning, it's assur. Doesn't matter how you do it. There's no din of maaseh uman on Shabbos. But since Chol HaMoed is based on is governed, I should say, by maaseh uman, how do you define maaseh uman? So this is challenging because you have to find a precedent for something that didn't exist. But that's the Netziv of Volozhin, everything is in the Torah every day. Listen to a few lines of the Buchach and Eishal Avraham in siman taf nun aleph, siman taf kuf mem hey. So he writes, neira, shechoysem anog lasois, bemasheh koyrin, he gives her name of Tzeva'os. I don't have Tzeva'os. But he's talking about a stamp. You have a person that's a chashuve, he has a stamp, he he stamps his name, and there is avos and here is address. But let's say you have a stamp that makes a nice picture. So he declares, using this stamp on Shabbos is a davar Shabbos, is a davar meskayem, and it's k'siva. But then he says, legabei Chol HaMoed, pashet dehavalei melaches heged. Using a stamp and making a beautiful picture or beautiful writing is a maaseh heged. I look at it, no. Bifrat, shekivan shekol heged yochal asois achoysem mamash k'maaseh uman. K'ilu tzuva mik'siva tama, that's yesh ba'uman. What he's saying is that if you just press it, and it becomes a maaseh uman, it is still remains a maaseh heged because anybody could do it by just pressing. So he's not talking about a computer, but the closest thing is a choysem, a seal. And he says, pashet, it's a maaseh heged. And we could have ibois aim akra, ibois aim asvar. First of all, the yesod of Chol HaMoed, Chazal assur melacha. Or better, Chazal assur maaseh uman. I like that word maaseh uman. The action, the work of an uman. This is not a work of an uman. Your child could press the the stamp and make a k'siva. I will say, wait a second, but you're not going to blow this by me because in a different hilchos Chol HaMoed, we see it's even a press of the button is assur even today. What am I talking about? The issur of laundering, washing laundry on Chol HaMoed. Where there's an issur cham based on a din Mishna, you can't laundry make laundry on Chol HaMoed. The poskim say, today, even though it's only a press of the button, it's no longer scrubbing and brushing and and wringing it out, it's still assur. I, it's only a press of the button. Obviously, pressing the button is also assur. But that's not a right klal klapter our sugiya because hilchos laundering, as the Mishna says, is not assur as a melacha. Again, it's a it's a tzarich Yom Tov. Why is it assur kavod Yom Tov? Shelo yichanis the Yom Tov k'shuman novel. If he's not going to make laundry on before Yom Tov, he won't make laundry, he has more time on Chol HaMoed, and be dressed the first two days of Yom Tov with dirty clothing. So the issur is not the pe'ulah at all. The issur is to make laundry before Yom Tov. So who cares how you do it, with a press of a button or laundry? But Raya, the poskim say, let's say you have a heter to wash your children's or grandchildren's clothing because they need it for for Chol HaMoed. So once you're doing it, can I throw my own clothing in? He says, no. It's not a din in the issur melacha, it's the din is Chazal didn't want laundry to take place. So now we're back to our original question, that how do we look at Chol HaMoed? Do we look at it the pe'ulah tzo'ah? We saw a svara, it's totally in the pe'ulah. We said the word maaseh uman, maaseh heged with God in the Lashon HaG'mara, Shulchan Aruch quotes in the Shulchan Aruch maaseh sounds like it's the action. But I found something even more beautiful in Chashuvei HaSofer in hilchos Chol HaMoed, the Sh'miras Shabbos K'hilchasa, on page zayin, he said he has bereichos, but he says that the Chazal assur maaseh uman for two reasons. The tircha shebo, and because it's a melacha chashuva. And I prove that I answered. Both of those reasons do not apply to a press of a button. It's not a tircha, it's not a melacha chashuva. Also, I should mention, the Chasam Sofer explained that the issur of maaseh uman is based because we have to know who's doing the issur. If you have a professional involved, that's a problem. No, like that. >> [clears throat] >> Today's press of the button, you don't need a professional. So lemaaseh, I I also must mention that in Maseches Yoma mem beis, the Gemara speaks says a Lashon of maaseh uman. Rashi says, the lav mutlach al Chol HaMoed, the lav maaseh umniso. It's not an action of an uman. The Rashba on the Maseches Yoma mem beis shekol adam yochal asoiso. You don't need you don't need a a skill, anybody could do it. If that's the case, there's definitely svara to say it's totally in the pe'ulah, not in the tzo'ah. Now, however, I want to mention one more point before we apply this to maaseh, and that is there there is an indication one of the gedolei Kadmonim, that's the sefer HaMa'or, one of the Kadmonim, that he lo choyra says you go after the tzo'ah. Now this is not my mevinus at all, but all the poskim discuss this shaila point to the Ma'or. The Ma'or, again, was one of the Kadmonim. The the Eliyahu Rabbah in taf shin mem ches, siman vov, siman vov, that's hilchos Pesach. The minhag was, you see in the Gemara, they used to make lettering on matzah, which on Yom Tov you can't do, but lemaaseh, they made lettering before Yom Tov, they had to make sure the wording was not chametz. So Zocher Re'eh Kayach in siman reish peh, what those that make lettering on matzah with a defus, even though legabei get, a defus, you can't print a get, it has to be written. Defus is not a k'siva. But on Yom Tov, you can't use a defus to make a imprint on the matzah because that's considered k'siva. Okay? So then he adds, Zocher HaMa'or, I got it sorted inside, it's a very it's one of the the sefarim that comes with other all the Kadmonim all together. Zocher HaMa'or, the he says, who are din on Chol HaMoed, this I felt I feel the Chol HaMoed is assur. So the Ma'or is saying regarding printing into into into food, that it's assur. Why is it assur? Must be you go basar the tzo'ah. Now, however, the Machatzis HaShekel in Chayei both prove that it can't be cuz they are themselves holds differently. Must be the reason why the miracle is also answering it is only because it's not enough of a or might. Because you don't have to you don't need the lettering. So said has to be a but not enough of a year. So we have saying the saying the law of my and the law of it So basically we could say that this is convincing enough. But I should mention there's a there's a come out of a fresh to this riot. The in top of gamma quotes the that you're not allowed to repair a leak in a roof when it's unless it's the of it. Let's say it's not raining. There's there's now no problem. There's a there's a crack in the roof. You can't repair it. Zolti have a top of base on the base of the shining. If you could fix it let's say there's a little hole and by with your foot you push a little bit of the dried leaves and you push it in to the hole and it repairs it, it's motor. Zolti affairs why? Even though now it's perfectly fixed, so you did a good job. But how did you do it? You didn't come with your tools. You came with your foot and you pushed this something in. That's you know, that's not my woman. So he's spelling out you did a saw of a my but how did you do how the pool of pool was had it it's motor. So that's what we're very very complicated even if the miracle is a a man of a carrot but there's definitely what to be saying we have the but we have this earliest source that you look at the how how it's done a press of a button is not a at all a my woman. Now how do we apply this to my sister? So I'll tell you first how they did the law. And that is what's called a typewriter. You see what the boy said what's that? But a typewriter is the forerunner of a computer. Somebody else have my in the two of the back of the of the slimer. Are you allowed to write on with a typewriter? >> [clears throat] >> So my sister says it's motor because the my sister it's not a my sister woman pressing a bunch of key a bunch of buttons. So my sister is identifying a typewriter as a my sister had it. I it's a very nice sophisticated writing. But you look at the pool and not the and the pool is very simple. Now the my sister some people don't don't have to type. But for that I saw a beautiful you saw it of my mom and slimer. Top of my hey. It's in safe cotton base. And he explains my sister in a beautiful way. He says the my sister once you're typing there's no difference how it how how you do it. It comes out the same. So no of us the only thing in the woman does he could type much faster. See when someone knows how to type with all 10 fingers without looking he could type quickly. But it's the the one that's doing it slowly like a child who goes A and I makes his name and you know takes me a half hour. But it doesn't make a difference because the outcome is the same outcome. So you're just doing it slower. But it's the same button that's pressed by a child is pressed by a professional. So he the way he puts it is that's where you could tell if something is a my sister woman. Cuz after all the work is done is it the same outcome? Yes. Then that's a my that's a my sister had it. Because even though you press the button does it faster or slower. So the fact that it's faster or slower doesn't impact it being a my sister woman. All you have to do is press the A and press the next letter until you write your word your name. So he says the fact that it comes out the same and it's just the speed of it that makes a difference. He's not going to give a better muscle. You have an artist. So his every bit of every stroke is professional. A non-professional you look at it it's not it's not an artist. But here it's pressing buttons. So if you do it quickly or slowly it's the same pressing buttons. So this is a perfect example of a my sister had it even though you look at it the saw is very much professional. And the my sister held that's motor. So the my sister my mom and my sister seem to assume that our you look at the pool the answers you look at the pool. Typewriter is the best muscle to that question. The shaver of living it it hey similar similar you have my all seem to also say the look at the pool. If you need a professional to do it that's it. If not it's a my sister had it. Now some of talk about that America and they say no the pastor says you look at the they they saw. But I'll tell you something interesting you'll see me in a U Bay. Grab the anchor of Kamenesky also chew in the back of the in slimer in the similar always it's on the 17 of the chew was there. I think I was asked about using a Polaroid camera. Again this is a outdated now I think they brought it back a little bit but basically it was a regular camera you press the button you took a picture. Out came a picture but it wasn't yet developed. It developed on the spot. And after you waited for a moment it came out a beautiful picture. So I think I was asked about using a Polaroid camera on it. I think I said that's a my sister woman. I it's a press of a button. Every child could take a picture. So obviously held that the issue of woman is tight saw. The my sister in that same safer it's page 168. Was he asked about a Polaroid when he said it's motor because it's a my sister had it. In that same chew my sister said you're allowed to use a Polaroid and you're allowed to use a I'm sorry in the same same safer Polaroid is motor and a typewriter is motor. The behind gives chew a is what I saw chew you're not allowed to use a Polaroid camera and you're not allowed to use a typewriter. With the tosser. If you hold pool is awesome then the is the pool then Polaroid camera and a typewriter is motor. If you hold tight saw is the issue then both are awesome. So it's really a of of and how to look at the of pool or tight saw. But as we saw most people can seem to feel that you look at the the pool. But I must mention some some of there is those there are those that look at it they treat it like a my sister woman but they still have to of it don't forget. I should mention the law of the power of the chew of it. Yes the man shall there is an unquestionable of it. But you say if someone's careful because he knows the guys had it. So his question is that he's the so definitely get a so. So again people feel but the my sister comes out nice good. So treat it like a like like a my sister woman but they still have to as we'll soon see. >> [clears throat] >> I should mention another point that the my sister regarding some feel that if you going to look at this strictly press the button is motor before long people have entire factories open on it. Cuz today factories are also press the button. So somebody keep it basically just to receive all those type of things but to go make a cloud totally in in in in pool of got to be very careful. You have to have a operation to make sure it doesn't get out of hand. >> [clears throat] >> If someone wants to know can he go to the bank if he needs the money about the law of going to bank it. Can he ask for a receipt? So here is an interesting question. Because you're not going to have you're not going to write up the receipt. You press the button and out comes the receipt. So if someone feels he needs it for his records and he can't go without it about that you could rely on the sheet that it's a press of a button it's a my sister had it. So my sister had it is my and it's fine. That's a good example again asking for a receipt for a check of for a check for it's also fine. What I found really is again it's a better understanding of the game in the of the of the slimer of the of the of the of the of the of the of He was asked when then was the then was the about a fax sending a fax on it. So to my mom said that the embassy is there is such advanced in technology in a fax. No doubt about it. It's my woman dick. But what are you doing? You're not you're not creating the facts. You're just pressing a button. So even though the facts and today computers even more so is a magnificent my sister woman. >> [clears throat] >> But what are you doing? You're not doing the my sister woman. You're pressing a button. So he says a fax and a computer and all these things are employing unbelievable my sister woman. But at the end of the day it's a regular press of the button. It still remains a my sister had it. So sending a fax is fine. The only thing is the person on the other end can he print it out? So that's totally in my sister had it. If it was it was motor. Making a copy photostatic or now there's more fancy name but a printout of a computer a photostat you want to copy a page of a safety going on you want to take a longer the black of it. So these are all examples of our law if you look at the the po'ula, it's a ma'aseh hedyot. Even though it comes out a beautiful black gemara with the newest print, that might be an uman originally printing that blot. But reprinting it is a ma'aseh hedyot. I should mention that writing on chol hamoed we try to avoid, but writing for for kedushas Torah not only is muttar, but the Taz and Tof if you see Yomi said that if you don't do it, you don't write down the chiddush thing you'll remember after Yom Tov, ein locha davar oved godol mizeh shema'avid zman. You're going to have to relearn the sugia, hopefully you'll you'll remember, but even if you but if you don't remember it's even worse. And writing on chol hamoed kedushas Torah there's a beautiful tzu min hashamayim, one of the Rishonim asked min hashamayim and similar he asked, "Can we write a chiddush that we mechadesh on chol hamoed? I'm afraid I might forget." So the response was "Oy eves Hashem shomer mitzvah malacha." Those shomerim that are sitting and learning on chol hamoed on nehav v'nechmad of Melech ha'elyon and he says "davarin v'machshavos heim amagolim karim b'ein Yisbarach." And if you're allowed to write because davar oved a few dollars, how much more if you might lose those avedos amagolim karim heim? So when a person has a chiddush, something that he's afraid we might forget after Yom Tov, by all means make sure to write it down. Using email in any form, properly of course. Again, sending email is no shaila. The one receiving it to print it out if it would be a shomer Shabbos Yom Tov, it's willing to assume it's a davar it's a ma'aseh hedyot and it's muttar. If so we should never be in a gezeira, but if someone has to go for an x-ray or MRI, so it's interesting. They used to be actually the the x-ray itself is you got to press the button. But the poskim say since you have to interpret, you have to decipher, you have to understand it, so that you need an uman to look at it. So that it becomes a ksav of an uman in the fact that no one could read unless you know how to look. So b'chlal we don't go to appointments unless it's tachshuv necessary, but basically the point is that when someone has a need for an x-ray if it waits until after Yom Tov, about a week wait. If he's afraid that by waiting there might be a he might not get appointment another 3 months, so it's davar oved. So even if it's an uman, davar oved is muttar. >> [clears throat] >> The next group of questions is a little more challenging, but it's certainly a little more simple. And that is can I use a computer? Let's say I want to make a I want to write something in my computer. I will not print it out until after Yom Tov. Now until now we spoke about printout without writing. Now let's say I care, I'm going to sit down and write a whole article Torah. And I'll print it out after Yom Tov or writing out the an article, whatever it is. How do you look at printing on a computer without printing it out? You see a typewriter was one of the same. But can I write something and information that's not necessarily learning? Maybe it's not k'siva. So the ma'aseh if you think about it that it is no k'siva, how could we ourselves k'siva? Now of course using a computer involves putting it on and electricity, but that's Yom Tov is is awesome, but this is not Yom Tov. And this is enough of a tzarich Yom Tov you want to write something down. So it seems the consensus of the poskim is that this is not considered k'siva. If you want to say it is k'siva, you know what it really is in a certain sense? K'siva she'eina miskayemes. Because if you have a screensaver, it doesn't stay too long. So even though you can retrieve it, but it's yet a k'siva that it doesn't last. So the poskim seem to say that if you just keep it to writing writing whatever typing onto the computer, that's not a k'siva. What I saw in the another chashuva sefer on the chol hamoed chos is called one of the first form on chol hamoed, he says a fascinating muscle. He said, "Let's say you have on Sukkos you have a nice Sukkah of a Sukkos tishiv as yamim. It's in a beautiful sign and you plug it into the wall and it lights up the letters Sukkos tishiv as yamim. A yala das it's considered k'siva? It's all written, but it's it's illuminating it." So he explained, "If you know the way the computer works, there is no k'siva on a computer screen. It's thousands of pixels that are being constantly shot a little bit of of electricity and mumcheh chacham I wouldn't believe it, but a mumcheh chacham with in a minute there are thousands of time that it's going going going again again again. But there is no k'siva on a computer screen. Now whether you understand it is irrelevant, but there is no k'siva on a computer screen. It's lights that is constantly being the shachdis again 300 times per minute, but there's no k'siva. If there's no k'siva, so how could it be ossur? That's why the ma'aseh the Rav in Chidushei Hamzavi asked about using a calculator. He says it's it's a ma'aseh hedyot and it's tzarich Yom Tov Yom Tov, but it's also it's ainam k'siva. Also again the fact that it's ainam miskayemes. So basically if someone asked me, "Can I use my cell phone on on chol hamoed?" Why not? Because I'm making numbers. Okay, you are. But the ma'aseh the numbers is not a k'siva. You didn't print it out. A camera, a digital, if you don't print it out it's no k'siva. It's all the same you saw it. Now a good question would be if I have to write something down or if I do or I could also enter the computer, which is less of a shaila chol hamoed. The answer is believe it or not on the computer there's no k'siva. Now I clarify again, let's say you need some information. So either you can have a printout from the computer or you'll write it with your hand. So if you're convinced that a computer printout is a ma'aseh ma'aseh hedyot, you're okay. If you question maybe it's a ma'aseh uman, it might be better to write because that's a regular k'siva she'eina miskayemes. And let me give you this one last shaila, actually two last shailas, fascinating shailas. We once had this shaila, the first time I saw it I was horrified. Someone had a computer and the screen on the screen it said that the opening of the beginning of it with Judaica screen it was a Yud Kay Vav Kay in large bold oisiyos. So he wanted to erase it. Because this is something new. So I that from that time there was a the Machaber of the Shemiras Shabbos was in America and he gave a shiur about him. And somebody asked him the shaila about erasing a computer. You know today you have people davening on their on their phone. I guess if there's no if there's a Shem Hashem, can you erase it? How do they check sifrei Torah on the screen? They have to erase the Shem Hashem. So they asked Shemiras Shabbos, "Are you allowed to erase it if it's b'chika Shem Hashem?" He says, "It's not k'siva. It's a zoya zoya zoya zoya." That's what he said. I remember like yesterday. What does he mean to say? This you saw it. Rav Zalman in in the Tziyon Chidushei Hamzavi on the Kuf Lamed Tes was asked this shaila and he says, "You know what it's like? It's like someone makes Shem Hashem with different lights. It's beautiful. The computer is not a k'siva. It's a zoya zoya zoya with thousands of pixels. That's not k'siva." And one last question, someone asked me once to record a shiur that was someone was giving on chol hamoed, but he was worried about k'siva because he's imprinting onto the onto the magnetic wave on the on the recorder the the the the speaking. And he told me he found a sefer that's machmir. So I said, "I have to I have to see this." So he brought me one of the chiddushim that he says the following. Just like I can't write on chol hamoed or Shabbos or Yom Tov, I can't write Chinese or Braille. I I can't read Chinese or Braille, but who cares? As long as the k'siva for somebody it's ossur. So he wants to say the sefer wants to say, "So recording something is some type of lettering that can be translated into a shiur. So it's got to be k'siva." But he's wrong. Because Braille and Chinese is lettering and this is magnetic waves. If it's no k'siva, there's no issur and I feel Yom Tov to you all. >> [music] [clears throat] >> Whoever done with sense to write down the piskei halachos during the shiur, there'll be a sichum on the shiur writing on chol hamoed. This chabura learned today as I said first chol hamoed is unique and unique halachos. And tach gedolim have a chance to learn halachos chol hamoed, but basically the basic klal is a ma'aseh hedyot l'tzarich Yom Tov is muttar. Writing a shopping list to or anything of tzarich Yom Tov is muttar. Once it becomes a maiseh uman, for example, you need the There's a pipe broke, you need a plumber to fix it. That's a maiseh uman. The only hetes davar avid typically it is or there's a leak, there's damage. So davar avid or tzarich chram is mutar maiseh uman. Tzarich Yom Tov is enough of a hetef for maiseh heged. We gave an example of a davar avid is writing a get. An example of a sefer Torah that the Torah has no other sefer Torah so it's tzarich chram and making a writing a shopping list even if it is mutar to write it as it is. The minig is some have a minig to make a slant the top line. That's enough. A shinui isn't a hetef when it's asa it's asa but when there's a chram we make a shinui. Children could be allowed to play with coloring coloring books or scrabble scribbling also grab is mutar but scrabble these type of games that ain't kiyames are mutar. To to you to play the game I forgot to mention the the kids like to when there's a foggy window they write in the foggy window that the ain't kiyames. A anything that has a lettering for example on a cake pastes is tzarich ain't kiyames besides it's tzarich Yom Tov and a maiseh heged. An artist in the park should be considered a maiseh uman and a meal akum would apply. Putting up a sign that's necessary for chol hamoed or second is Yom Tov change of the minig a shear or some other some other is mutar. Registered mail you could have the sign or you could sign if you think it's a tzarich writing a check or and or receipt is okay if the collector is coming around with a credit card machine on chol hamoed you could give him a document date and you could ask for a receipt but definitely it's mutar. The big question is how do you tie up today's technology? Is it a maiseh uman because of the taitza is umandik or is it a maiseh uman there's a po'alah? And this is the gate to probably count the shailas but we gave an example of a typewriter and or a Polaroid camera and they both have a simple po'alah. A professional taitza and most place mode you look at the the po'alah if the po'alah was hegedic then even though there's a magnificent taitza it's considered a maiseh heged. That's why you could you could have a receipt from the a from the ATM machine even though it's coming out professional writing but it's a press of the button. Photostat printing all these things if it's a press of the button it's okay. Email fax is mutar to send it. The receiver could interpret it could print it if he needs it. X-rays or any type of medical appointments should be made after Yom Tov unless it's a davar avid. A phone GPS all these things on a screen when it doesn't translate into writing is never a shaila. That's why it's like a lighting of of a sukkah station taking a picture without the developing even shame hashem believe it or not is mutar to erase and recording a shear is mutar because it's not a kiyames at all. My bank once again.