Reply To: Taking vacation holidays between Dec 25 and Jan 1

Yeshivishsocrates1 – “It seems to me that people seek out the most absurd of possible chumras in an attempt to twist and corrupt Judaism. Now, I pray fervently that the original post was in jest? Perhaps in an attempt to draw a reaction. I really dont know but does anyone actually think that there is any value in such drastic measures. I could be wrong and id honestly love to be corrected but i honestly cannot fathom the possible value in abstinence from vacationing between those dates.”

This illustrates how our mortal “logic” is diametrically opposed to Torah.

I use the term “our” because we all become guilty of deciding issues on the basis of “li nireh” (as it appears to me) based on “my” rotzon rather than the decisions of halacha which are rotzon Hashem.

On this issue, see Igros Moshe Y.D. vol 3, simon 85 that one should not vacation during this time EVEN if he has no intention to celebrate in their holidays, but vacations merely because the parents are off work and want to take a family trip, since the innocent intentions do not vitiate the issur.

Does everyone adopt this psak of Reb Moshe? From the comments, apparently not.

However, I do object and make a machoah to the comment by Yeshivishsocrates1 – “The words chassid shoteh spring to mind…”

As far as I know, Reb Moshe was not a chosid…of any kind.