Q&A: Being Stringent and Lenient as a Matter of Routine
Being Stringent and Lenient as a Matter of Routine
Question
Hello Rabbi Michi,
I wrote an article that is similar to and different from your ‘Between Leniency and Stringency,’ and I referred to your remarks there.
I tried to explain the concepts simply (and without the many sources you brought) and to show how they relate to all areas of life, and not only to halakhic give-and-take.
It seems to me that our definitions of leniency and stringency are quite close, and I’d be interested to hear what you think.
Have a pleasant day.
Answer
Thank you for the fine article. Two main comments occurred to me:
1. Regarding your main conclusion about the value of incorporating halakhic categories of perspective into everyday life, see Rabbi Yuval Cherlow’s article in one of the early issues of Tzohar, where he discusses deciding life’s uncertainties according to the halakhic rules for deciding doubtful cases (“sit and do nothing” is preferable, “the burden of proof rests on the one seeking to extract,” judicial discretion, “whoever is stronger prevails,” “let it remain unresolved,” “they divide,” etc.).
2. I wasn’t able to distinguish between different meanings of stringency and leniency in your remarks. I didn’t find any place where my definition didn’t fit in as well (stringency opens fewer possible paths than leniency). Even when you presented two different definitions or different applications, they didn’t seem different to me. In particular, in the opening paragraph there you distinguished between a situation of sorting out sides in a dispute (the one who prohibits is the stringent one) and deciding in a case of doubt (stringently and leniently).
All the best, and good luck,