It is forbidden to buy houses, bondsmen, and beasts except for the needs of the [buyer] on Chol Hamoed, [i.e., a house to dwell in, a bondsman to serve him, beasts to slaughter], or for the needs of the seller, who does not have what to eat, [and who needs the money for yom tov expenses.] It is forbidden to remove [vessels or produce] from one house to another [that is far from it, because of (the interdict against) undue exertion], but it is permitted to remove it into his courtyard [i.e., into a different house in the same courtyard, this being "discreet"; but not from one house to another by way of the public domain.] It is forbidden to bring articles from the artisan's house, [articles which are not needed for Chol Hamoed; but it is permitted to bring those which are needed, e.g., mattresses, cushions, cups, ladles, etc.]. And if he fears for them [that they might be stolen from the artisan's house, or if the artisan needs his wage and the owner of the article does not trust him (to leave the article there), fearing that he might ask to be paid a second time], he removes them to a different courtyard.
Bartenura on Mishnah Moed Katan
אלא לצורך המועד – that the purchaser needs them on the Festival (I.e., the Intermediate Days of the Festival/Hol HaMoed) – houses to dwell in them, slaves to serve him and animals/cattle for slaughter.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Moed Katan
Introduction
This mishnah deals with two subjects: 1) buying large items on the festival; 2) using the festival as time to move one’s belongings.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Moed Katan
או לצורך המועד – that he needs to money to spend for the needs of the Holy Day.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Moed Katan
They may not purchase houses, slaves or cattle unless it is for the needs of the festival, or the need of the seller who does not have enough to eat. It is forbidden to make large purchases on the festival, because the festival should not be used as a time to engage in activities needed for after the festival. There are, however, two circumstances, that allow one to make a large purchase on the festival. First of all, if the sale is necessary to the buyer for the needs of the festival. For instance, if one’s house burned down right before the festival, he may buy a new one during the festival. The second circumstance is if the seller needs the cash immediately to buy food for the holiday. The general prohibition of buying and selling large items on the festival is waved if the seller needs money immediately in order to buy food in order to celebrate the festival itself.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Moed Katan
אין מפנים – utensils or grain..
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English Explanation of Mishnah Moed Katan
They may not move [belongings] from one house to another house, but he may move [his belongings] within his courtyard. Moving from one house to another is obviously a difficult and laborious endeavor. Since it involves so much work, one may not do so on the festival. However, he is allowed to move his stuff out to the adjacent courtyard because this is not nearly as strenuous. The Talmud explains that he can move from one house to another house within the same courtyard.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Moed Katan
מבית – [from] this [house] to another house far from him because of the effort.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Moed Katan
They may not bring back vessels from the house of the craftsman, but if one is anxious about them, he may remove them to another courtyard. If one has left his vessels (clothes, utensils, cloth etc.) at a craftsman for repair, he cannot bring them home on the festival. According to the Talmud, this refers to vessels which are not needed on the festival. However, if he fears that someone might steal them from the craftsman’s workshop, he may move them to a better-guarded workshop. While this may be just as much work as moving them to his own home, he is not allowed to bring them home lest someone plan ahead of time to use the festival as a opportunity to bring his things home from the craftsman.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Moed Katan
אבל מפנה לחצרו – to another house in the same courtyard, for it is private, but not from one house to another house via the public domain.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Moed Katan
ואין מביאין כלים מבית האומן – these words [are regarding] utensils that are not for the needs of the Festival, but utensils that are for the needs of the Festival such as pillows, cushions and cups and ladles are permitted.
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Bartenura on Mishnah Moed Katan
ואם חושש להם – lest they be stolen from the house of the artisan, or if he needs the artisan to hire him and the owner of the utensil doesn’t believe him since he fears lest he will request from him the wages for his labor a second time.
