[net.religion.jewish] Jewish Holidays and work.

avi@pegasus.UUCP (03/07/84)

This article is being forwarded for someone whose machine is not on the net.
Please send all responses to ...!pegasus!lzpfc!klein -- not to me.
The message is (obviously) a response to "Andy".
		Avi Gross
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Andy,
	I must comment on your list of holidays that we should take
off for.  I believe Purim should be added to the list as well as Tisha B'av.
As far as Purim goes, the Shulchan Aruch states that he who does work does
not see a Siman Bracha (the fruits of his labor - can you think of a better
translation ) from his work.  In other words if you are a true believer you
will realize that you are wasting your time and any profit you made will be
lost (e.g. if you make $100/day your investment will go down $100, you will
need to replace your muffler, etc.).  Tisha B'av has Melacha forbidden in
the morning but aside from that how can you have a true feeling of Aveilus
(mourning) for  the Beis Hamikdosh (temple), etc. if you come into work?  By
only  fasting and wearing sneakers you have taken the Tafel (minor point)
and  thrown away the Ikar (major point).

	Which brings me to another question.  Do we have a good 'heter' to work on 'Chol Hamoed' (the intermediate days of Passover and Sukkos).  I have heard there are 'hetering' and am just curious to know what they are, I am not trying to sound "holier than thou". I came in once on Chol Hamoed and found it to be a real 'Bizui Hamoed' (desecration of the festival).  I don't think wanting to save your vacation days for another time is valid - that is 'mechaven melachto lamoed' - loosely translated that means gearing your work for the Festival when it could have been done some other time; which is forbidden.  If you can use compensatory time you certainly have no excuse.  I am not even sure if one does not have an obligation to take leave without pay - being that the 'heter' of 'davar haaved' (permitting work during the intermediate days when there is a loss involved) means a loss not a 'menias harevach' (lack of profit).  The only 'heter' I can think of is that if taking off a whole week and a half would effect your relationship with your colleagues in a negative way - that may be considered a 'davar haaved' - a loss in which work would be permitted.  Having worked one set of Chol Hamoed when I first started at Bell Labs and then having taken off after that - let me tell you that the Simchas Yom Tov is much enhanced by not doing such mundane things as sitting in front of this terminal.  If anyone knows a 'heter' please let me know.  I will admit I have not
researched the question thoroughly.

		Nemi (pegasus!lzpfc!klein)
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