Questions tagged [safek]
for questions about cases of doubt or uncertainty
29
questions
14
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What determines the sorts of cases in which one can deliberately not know the facts?
Halacha depends on the facts of a situation. Generally, when one cannot know the exact facts, he is expected to assume that they are as usual (rov), or as they were when last checked (chazaka). When ...
- 73.6k
14
votes
1
answer
718
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Why don't Rabbinic fasts end by Ben Hashmashot?
There's a doubt in the Gemara when the new day starts, at sunset or at three stars (Ok, and there's Rabbi Yossi's opinion).
When it comes to Shabbos (or any other biblical time), we have to be strict ...
- 40.1k
7
votes
3
answers
761
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logic behind kol kavua k'mechtza al mechtze
there is a principle in halacha regarding doubts that if something is separated from a kavua (fixed place) it is treated as 50/50% chance even if the permitted is the majority.
but if it is found in ...
- 20.8k
3
votes
3
answers
253
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Should I improvise a b'racha in a case of doubt?
I didn't grow up on "b'racha bees" and I know there's a lot I don't know, so I sometimes find myself in a situation where either I know there's a b'racha for something but I don't know it, or I don't ...
- 56.2k
7
votes
3
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472
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Schrödinger's cat and yibbum
Over Shabbos, the Shalosh Seudos discussion turned to the Monty Hall problem, which confused a lot of people [and which (#Humblebrag) I was able to clear up for them in under 30 seconds ;)].
Then, ...
- 18.9k
6
votes
1
answer
510
views
Safek De'Oraysa Le'Chumra
The classic example of safek de'oraysa le'chumra is when there is an agreement that a de'oraysa exists but there is a debate as to which cases constitute the de'oraysa. In such a debate we paskin le'...
- 9,489
7
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1
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178
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Safek yehareg v'al yaavor
If there is a situation in which you aren't sure whether you are required to give up your life, do you give up your life or not?
The most simple example would be if someone doesn't know whether ...
- 23.9k
6
votes
2
answers
368
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When can you turn a dispute into a safek?
In this answer, I proposed that since there is a machlokes rishonim on a certain issue, it counts as a safek (doubt), although the Shulchan Aruch rules strictly. DoubleAA commented, saying that he ...
- 23.9k
5
votes
0
answers
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How to deal with uncertainties in the Torah that lead to a change in meaning?
In Vayikra 14:19, there are different versions of the trop, and unlike most of them, this difference causes a change in the meaning of the words:
וְכִפֶּ֕ר עַל־הַמִּטַּהֵ֖ר מִטֻּמְאָת֑וֹ
(zakef-gadol,...
- 9,037
4
votes
1
answer
387
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What is the status of those who need to undergo geyur lechumra?
What is the status of one who needs to undergo a giyur lechumra, but have yet to undergo the actual process? Can they be counted in a minyan? Are they considered Jewish? Can they serve as eydim? FoR: ...
- 41
1
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0
answers
96
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Practical suggestions for choosing between different nuschaot in the Torah
Unfortunately, it's not hard to find places in the Torah, and even more so in Nach, where we have a doubt about either the trop or the nekudot. (Or, more rarely, letters, but those are generally the ...
- 9,037
1
vote
3
answers
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How can a man give a woman a gift without getting himself into a safek kiddushin?
According to jewish law a women is betrothed to a man when the man gives the woman a gift worth more than a prutah and recites the words "you are betrothed to me through this object".
How can a man ...
- 13k
11
votes
3
answers
320
views
Counting the omer with doubt before the fixed calendar
Currently, according to a previous question on this site, we count the omer without doubt: "Today is the Xth day of the omer" because we have a fixed calendar, and because counting with doubt is ...
- 6,886
11
votes
3
answers
584
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9 Days of Chanukah?
All Yomim Tovim we celebrate in Chutz Laretz an extra day because of A safek, why do we not do the same for Chanukah?
- 32.9k
10
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1
answer
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What was the ריב"א thinking?
In ריקאנטי number 166,1 he records a story about the ריב"א:
ושמעתי כי ריב"א חלה חוליו שמת בו וחל יוה"כ באותם הימים וא"ל הרופאים אם
לא תאכלו ודאי תמות ואם תאכל שמא לא תחיה והוא ז&...
- 18.9k
10
votes
2
answers
285
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Lifnei 'Iver and your maybe-Jewish co-worker
I work in an office in which someone working down the hall is disabled. She has a Jewish sounding last name and talks to me about her family's practices in regard to being members of a Reform temple ...
- 41.3k
7
votes
1
answer
746
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What to do when which side of the door to put the Mezuza on is unclear?
If someone has a house which has a room, and this room has two doors without a "heker tzir" (1) (like salon doors, or sliding doors, or no doors at all) and people walk into this room through one door ...
- 40.1k
7
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1
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How does a giyur lchumra differ from a regular conversion? [duplicate]
I may be Jewish by matrilineal descent - my great, great, great grandmother was Jewish and was buried in a Jewish cemetery. Subsequent generations of my family were Catholic. I understand that if the ...
- 71
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2
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243
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Why do we have an explicit rule of Safek Brachos Lehakel if we already have a greater encompassing rule of Safek D'Rabanan L'kulah?
I understand that Safek brachos lehakel might simply be a corollary of Safek D'rabana L'kulah, however I assume there is some nafka minah between the two. The only reason we would have safek brachos ...
6
votes
1
answer
890
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What is considered a Safek?
I've been learning all these laws about Sekefot-doubts, but I'm coming up shy on a basic point. What is considered a Safek? Example:if there are 100 pieces of lettuce and I check all of them and only ...
- 16.5k
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Source for "אין שמחה כשמחת התרת הספקות"
Some people in my synagogue this morning were discussing the aphorism
אין שמחה כשמחת התרת הספקות
there's no joy like the joy of the resolution of doubts
or words to that effect. Specifically, ...
- 73.6k
6
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0
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87
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Does the 16th of Shevat have any halachic effects?
For most Torah holidays, we keep two days outside Israel out of doubt.
Tu bishvat is a day with Biblical effects (though I wouldn't go so far as to say it's a Biblical "holiday", or a Rabbinic one ...
- 9,037
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1
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549
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100% Polyester or Silk suits requiring checking
According to the Shaatnez testers of America
Suits and Sport jackets, (Men's/Boy's): Require testing even 100% polyester and 100% silk suits.
Why so? Isn't there a simple Sefek Sefeka? Safek if ...
- 16.5k
5
votes
2
answers
289
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What should I do if I don't know whether I'm in a pikuach nefesh situation?
Suppose I find myself in a situation where I am not sure whether my life is sufficiently in danger to warrant halachot of pikuach nefesh to come into play. What should I do in this case? Am I supposed ...
- 24.5k
4
votes
2
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234
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Why is one who touched doubtful Tumah in a public domain considered Tahor?
The source that doubtful Tumah in a private domain is Tamei is the Gemara in Sotah (28b - see there for translation):
מה ת"ל והיא נטמאה והיא לא נטמאה אם נטמאה למה שותה אם לא נטמאה למה משקה מגיד לך ...
- 40.1k
4
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1
answer
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Halachic categorization of safek dioraisa...
Is the dictum of safek dioraisa l'chumrah (and its inverse safek d'rabanan l'kulah) a principle from the Torah, or a din d'rabanan? How does this change how we react in these sefeikah situations?
- 370
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Controversy Concerning Community Consumption of Chametz Coming from Costco
There is a Rabbinic prohibition on benefiting from chametz that was owned by a Jew over Passover. In recent years, an issue was raised in the New York area that a major distributor of grocery items ...
- 17.5k
1
vote
2
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338
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Is un-pedigreed Jew assumed mamser for marrage to Orthodox girl even after he becomes Orthodox?
This is a clarification of the "up-conversion" questions I asked recently. According to the many sources on the internet many Orthodox rabbis hold the general presumption that declared and observant ...
- 353
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0
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Is one allowed to sin a small sin to save himself from bringing a Chatas?
The Gemara in Shabbos says that Bibi bar Abaye asks if one can violate a Rabbinic commandment (unsticking a loaf from an oven) to save oneself from being "chayav a chattas".
The Gemara says that ...
- 40.1k