Rosh Chodesh Melacha Avoidance

Q. What types of melachos (activities) should women avoid on Rosh Chodesh?

A. It is difficult to give a definitive answer to this question because there are a wide range of opinions of what is prohibited and what is not. The Rema (417:1) writes that one should follow the local minhag, but what if there is no known minhag, as is often true today? Some say in that case all melochos are forbidden (MB 417:4). Other, write (such as Mor U’ketziya) that only strenuous melochos are forbidden. Accordingly, some women have the custom not to sew or do laundry on Rosh Chodesh. Nonetheless, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l writes that women may use a washing machine, since this does not involve strenuous activity. The Aruch Hashulchan (OC 417:10) writes that women who works outside the home to earn a livelihood are exempt from this custom while working, but otherwise she should refrain from all melachos as on Chol Hamo’ed. Aishel Avrohom [Buchach] Tinyana 417 maintains that a davar ha’aved (to avoid a financial loss) is acceptable. Finally, the Mishnah Berurah quotes an opinion (Beiur Halacha 417, s.v. V’Hanashim) that if a woman does not have a communal or personal custom, she should accept upon herself some melacha (such as not sowing or not ironing) that she will refrain from doing on Rosh Chodesh as a fulfillment of her observance of this holiday.

____________________________________________________

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.