Reply To: How are single girls supposed to be mekayem the Mitzvah of Simcha on Chol HaMoed

“anyhow, it’s assur to go shopping on Chol Hamoed.

It’s assur to make general, blanket, statements that may or may not apply to people reading the CR.”

Not if it’s clear that it’s meant as a general statement which I thought was clear from the context of the conversation. It was not said in the context of a halachic discussion but rather as a side point in a not particularly serious discussion.

Regarding halacha, the Halacha is in fact that one is not allowed to go clothes shopping. There can however by exceptions, so in specific situations, a sheilah should be asked. Perhaps all of the customers had a reason why it was muttar in their case.

I’m just wondering – would you find it problematic for someone to say that it is assur to drive on Shabbos even though there are situations in which it is muttar?

By the way, I do appreciate your sensitivity to phrasing things appropriately. I’m just not sure that it is relevant in this case. However, in case you are right, I will rephrase my statement:

In general, it is forbidden to go shopping on Chol Hamoed, although there are exceptions. And if someone wants to help me be mekayem the Mitzvah of simcha on Chol Hamoed by buying something for me, I am sure I can help them to find a heter 🙂