Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim · Siman 540

Shulchan Arukh Orach Chayim 540 — English translation

Translation: Sefaria Community Translation. Section numbers match the Hebrew text above.

1. 11. Laws of Building and Demolishing on Chol HaMoed, in it is 8 paragraphs. Building even a bit is forbidden. If there was a breach in the fence of his orchard [or the wall of his courtyard that is between him and his friend - (Mordechai, 1st Chapter of Moed Katan & Hagaaos Maimoni Chapter 8], build an act of an amateur that is place rocks on top of each other or plaster mud or fence (the breach) with reeds, papyrus, and like those. Similarly, if making a railing for a roof, build in an act of an amateur; however, if building a wall for his courtyard that is near the public thoroughfare that fell, build as normal, and if it is leaning to fall, demolish because of danger and build normally. Note (Rema): Even if it is only leaning to the courtyard or alley, it is allowed to demolish because of danger and return and rebuild. Similar with other matters that there is a concern of danger, build and demolish as usual (Bais Yosef in the name of Reb Yerucham BN'Y)
2. 22. It is permitted to take from a pile (of dirt or stone) in one's house (on Chol HaMoed).
3. 33. Holes in the roof are permitted to close with one's hand or feet, but not with a professional implement.
4. 44. Door hinges, the key [and the lock - Gemara], the door socket, and the board, whether they are wood or iron, that breaks even on the eve of Yom Tov, one is able to fix without change because that it is a great loss that if he leaves his entry open and door broken, he will find lost all that is in the house. Parentheses (Rema): Therefore it is allowed, except that he should not intend to work on the Festival (Rabbi Yerucham).
5. 55. It is permitted to build (with an) amateur act a stall that his animals eat in it.
6. 66. It is permitted to build (with an) amateur act a bench to sit or sleep upon.
7. 77. An oven or stove that is possible that one can dry and bake in them on the Festival, one can make. If not, do not make them. [Similarly, making pots and pans is allowed in this manner - Nimukei Yosef - end of the 1st chapter of Moed Katan and the Maggid Mishnah Chapter 8).] Either way (if able to be dried or not) we build on earthenware of oven (i.e. the finishing) and on the stove the plaster of them.
8. 88. We pierce millstones and open their holes [explanation: the hole we make in the middle of the millstone] and stand them and build the water canal of the millstone and cut the nails of the donkey of the millstone. Note (Rema): it is allowed to sharpen a knife on the festival and a knife that breaks on the Festival, it is permitted to make another (Maggid Chapter 1.)

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