Activities Permitted and Forbidden on Yom Tov: A-B
ACQUISITIONS
You may not acquire items (kinyan) on Jewish festivals unless they are needed for that Jewish festival or for a mitzva. The classic example is bringing food or wine to a house for Jewish festival lunch, which the house owner acquires on the Jewish festival for the Jewish festival. Other permissible kinyan on Jewish festivals is giving:
Siddur, machzor, or chumash to use on that day.
Permissible medicine for use on that day.
On bringing mail or a newspaper into your house on Jewish festivals, see Jewish Festivals: Bringing Mail inside House and Jewish Festivals: Bringing Newspaper inside House.
ANIMALS
Trapping Animals
You may not trap animals on Jewish festivals.
Releasing Trapped Wild Animal
As on Shabbat, on Jewish festivals you may release a wild animal that is trapped in a trap or cage by opening the door or gate, but you may not move or lift the cage.
Feeding Trapped Wild Animal
You may not feed wild animals on Jewish festivals. But if you intend to keep the animal, you MUST feed it.
AIR CONDITIONING
Adjusting Air Conditioner Louvers
As on Shabbat, you may adjust air conditioner louvers on Jewish festivals.
Adjusting Air Conditioner Temperatures
On Jewish festivals, you may:
Lower the temperature when an air conditioner compressor is running, and
Raise the temperature when the compressor is off.
NOTE: You may do so ONLY with an analog control; not with a digital control.
REASON: Grama is permissible on Jewish festivals (but not on Shabbat).
BATHING
Showering
It is forbidden to shower on Jewish festivals.
Blotting Hair
You may blot your hair with a towel on Jewish festivals as long as you don't squeeze or wring out your hair.
BIOLUMINESCENCE
Creating Bioluminescent Light
You may not create bioluminescent light, as with glowsticks, on Jewish festivals.
BOOKS
Marking Pages in Books
You may mark pages in a book, whether secular or holy, on Jewish festivals by:
Putting slips of paper in the book (but only if the slips were torn before the Jewish festival began), or
Bending the corners.
BRAIDING HAIR
As on Shabbat, you may not braid (or unbraid) hair on Jewish festivals.
BRUSHING TEETH
Water, Tooth Powder, Toothwashing Liquid
You may use water, tooth powder, and toothwashing liquid on Jewish festivals. But, to avoid squeezing the toothbrush bristles, you must put the water or toothwashing liquid into your mouth and not on the brush.
Flossing Teeth
You may floss your teeth on Jewish festivals as long as your gums do not bleed.
Cutting Floss
You may not cut floss on Jewish festivals, so it is best to cut the floss before the festival starts.
NOTE: Even if you did not cut the floss ahead of time, you may still pull out a length of floss and clean your teeth (but be careful not to cut off the floss when you are finished.)
BUSINESS
Business Ownership
A business whose sole or major owner is Jewish may not be operated on Jewish festivals (and Shabbat), even by non-Jewish employees. There may be possibilities to allow operation by relinquishing majority control, but the issues are complex and rabbinic guidance is essential.
Internet Business
Running a business that accepts orders and payments over the internet during Jewish festivals (and Shabbat) is complicated. The main issue is collecting payments. A rabbi should be consulted for specific cases.
Selling Tickets for Flights
If you are a travel agent, you may sell airline tickets during a weekday to a Jew who will fly on a Jewish festival (even though Jews are not allowed to fly--except in some emergencies).
Copyright 2015 Richard B. Aiken. Halacha L’Maaseh appears courtesy of www.practicalhalacha.com Visit their website for more information.