Sunday, April 3, 2016

Why Need One Not Check In Certain Cases Of Doubt

לרפואת נעמי בת טובה
ואליענה רינה בת אלעזר יעקב


Nine piles of matzah and one of chametz were placed [aside]. A mouse came and took [something from one of the piles] and entered a house that had been checked. If we do not know whether it took either chametz or matzah, the house must be checked [again], for every instance where [a doubt arises and the presence of both the permitted and forbidden substances] is fixed [קבוע], [is judged] as if they were present in equal amounts [and he must check].

The reason is [explain the meforshim] that even though it is only a case of safek - bedikas chometz was decreed for cases of safek.

But let's see the next halacha:

There were two piles: one of chametz and one of matzah, and two houses: one that had been searched and one that had not been searched. Two mice came; one took chametz and one took matzah [and they entered the houses] without our knowing which house the mouse holding the chametz entered...

Similarly, there were two houses which had been checked, with one pile of chametz before them. A mouse took [from the pile and entered a house]. However, we do not know which house he entered...

or we saw which one he entered, a person followed him, checked [for chametz], and did not find anything...

Similarly, when there were nine piles of matzah and one of chametz, and a loaf became separated from the piles, and we do not know whether it was chametz or matzah: If a mouse took the loaf that became separated and entered the house that had been checked:

In all of these cases, there is no need to check a second time, because the presence of the forbidden substance is not fixed.

But wait a second! It is true that the presence of the forbidden substance is not fixed - but it is nevertheless still a case of safek and bedikas chometz was decreed for cases of safek???