1,069. Labor That Would Not Incur a Loss if Neglected

Shvisas Yom Tov 7:5

If one needs to sew a garment or build a structure on chol hamoed and he is a regular person, not trained in that skill, he may do so in his usual manner. If he is a craftsman skilled in this labor, he must perform the labor as lay person would. For example, when sewing, he makes stitches like a weaver would; when building, he places the stones but does not mortar them. One may smooth plaster on cracks using a roller, or using one's hands and feet as he would use a trowel. The same concepts apply in comparable situations.

Shvisas Yom Tov 7:6

If one has grain that is still growing and he has no other food to eat, we do not make him go buy what he needs and wait until after yom tov to harvest his grain. This is so even though making him wait would not cause him to incur a loss. Rather, he may harvest what he needs, gather it in sheaves, thresh, winnow, separate and grind it, so long as he does not thresh it using oxen. This is because any labor performed on chol hamoed that would not cause one to incur a loss must be done in a manner different from how it is usually performed. The same is true in similar situations.