Question
One needs a shirt for Yom Tov. It is now Chol Hamoed....is it preferable to wash or buy a shirt?
Answer
It is preferable to buy a new shirt rather than to laundry. The reason is that there is a dispute amongst the Poskim whether doing a Melacha on Chol Hamoed is an Isur Mideoraita or Miderabanan. However, purchasing items on Chol Hamoed is definitely a decree of Chazal which is less severe. Therefore, for Yom Tov purchasing is permitted in such a case.
Rabbi Yitzchak Grinblat
