Q&A: Entering Situations of Doubt from the Outset
Entering Situations of Doubt from the Outset
Question
Good afternoon Rabbi Michael, following the Rabbi’s answer at https://mikyab.net/%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA/%d7%9e%d7%a6%d7%91%d7%99-%d7%a1%d7%a4%d7%a7
is there, in general, some principle / halakhic obligation in Jewish law not to enter situations of doubt?
It seems that in many places in Jewish law (especially in the laws of blessings), the initial halakhic solution to a doubt is simply to get out of it (even if, for example, I’m really not interested in eating bread). Is this simply choosing the easiest solution, and a person is entirely legitimate in not acting that way, or is there a more binding halakhic principle here that seeks to avoid situations of doubt even at the cost of inconvenience and requiring a person to change the normal course of life that led him into the doubtful situation?
I’d be happy for sources and references to discussions on the subject, if there are any. Thank you very much!
Answer
Each case has to be judged on its own merits. If you have a doubt regarding blessings, there is no reason to eat bread if you do not want to eat it. There are rules for cases of doubt (such as being lenient in cases of doubt regarding blessings), and you can rely on them. But when you deliberately place yourself, from the outset, into a situation of doubt (not when this is simply your normal way of life), that is already a different discussion. There one could argue that it is not considered a genuine doubt, because you yourself created it (like someone who deliberately places himself in a situation of coercion). But as stated, every situation has to be considered on its own.
For example, in my responsum there I pointed out that there is an obligation to learn so as not to end up in situations of doubt.