Q&A: The Chazon Ish’s Measures
The Chazon Ish’s Measures
Question
Hello Rabbi Michael,
I wanted to ask you whether, in Jewish law, it is proper or correct to be stringent about the measurements of the Chazon Ish, or whether it is sufficient to rely on the measurements of Rabbi Chaim Naeh, as the view of most halakhic decisors?
Best regards,
Answer
It seems to me that usually Rabbi Chaim Naeh is more correct. Someone who wants to be stringent can of course do so, but in my opinion there is no necessity whatsoever.
Discussion on Answer
I haven’t checked it in depth, but from time immemorial the practice has been according to Rabbi Chaim Naeh. It is clear that one who follows that practice certainly has what to rely on.
As far as I know, the custom like Rabbi Chaim Naeh was only for measurements of volume; for measurements of length they followed the Chazon Ish. After all, the contradiction between measures of length and volume already came up in the time of the Beit Yosef and the Mabit, who asked about the contradiction between the customs, which shows that this was indeed their practice.
As I recall, the Chazon Ish himself wrote that it was only as a stringency.
Is he more correct regarding measurements of length as well, or only regarding measurements of volume?
(Needless to say, the olives did not get smaller, and olives from that period were found at the same size, but I heard that in measurements of length the Chazon Ish is always correct).