1,023. Soil and Ash on Yom Tov

Shvisas Yom Tov 2:18

If one brings soil into his domain on the day before yom tov, it is considered prepared for use so long as he designates a corner of his courtyard as its place. The soil may then be handled and used for any purpose. Similarly, ash that was burned on the day before yom tov is considered prepared for use; ash that was burned on yom tov may be used as long as it is still warm enough to cook an egg because it is considered to be like fire (which is permitted). If it is no longer warm, it may not be handled because of nolad (something that came into existence on yom tov). Let’s say that a person sinks an iron pole into the ground before yom tov, then he pulls it out on yom tov, uprooting some soil. If the soil is powdery, it may be used to cover (the blood of a slaughtered animal) and it may be handled for that purpose. However, if he pulled up a clod of dirt, it may not be crumbled on yom tov.

Shvisas Yom Tov 3:1

If one has soil or ash that has been prepared and that may be handled, then he may slaughter a bird or a wild animal and cover its blood on yom tov. If he does not have soil or ash that may be handled, he should not slaughter. If he violated and slaughtered anyway, he may not cover the blood until after yom tov. Similarly, one may not slaughter an animal on yom tov when there is a doubt as to whether it is a wild or a domesticated animal. (Only the blood of wild animals is covered.) If one does slaughter such an animal on yom tov, he does not cover the blood until after yom tov. This is so even if one has soil or ash that was already prepared because we are concerned that an observer might conclude that this type of animal is classified as a wild animal because its blood was covered on yom tov. This might then lead him to conclude that the fats of this animal are permitted to eat.