Klalei Halacha: Difference between revisions

# Anytime that we rely upon majority and the actual facts can be investigated one must do so. For example, even though majority of animals are kosher we nonetheless check the lungs of an animal to verify that indeed it is kosher.<ref>Ran (on Rif Pesachim 1b; on Gemara Pesachim 4a) writes that it is evident in the gemara that even if there is a majority of people who do bedikat chametz if someone rents a house and doesn't know whether the owner checked, he should verify with the owner if that is possible. He compares it to the ruling of the Rif Chullin 3b that if someone did a [[shechita]] and we don't know if he's an expert in the laws of shechita, even though a majority are experts we should verify that he knows the laws if that is possible. Maharam Chalavah Pesachim 4b s.v. may agrees. The Rashba Chullin 3a s.v. amar and 10b s.v. umiyhu accepts the Rif and proves it from the Gemara Chullin, though he does not connect it to the Gemara Pesachim. He gives 3 examples where we rely upon a rov and yet require verification when possible: we check that the shochet is an expert, we check the knife for shechita, and we check the lungs of an animal to make sure it is kosher even though a majority are kosher. He attributes this approach to his teacher, the Ramban, as well. The Ritva Chullin 3b s.v. mishum cites this approach of the Rif, yet the Raah disagreed. Whenever there is a majority there is no need to check or verify further. In Pesachim, Ritva 4b s.v. delayteh addresses the proof of the Ran and answers that in fact it depends on the percentage of the majority. When there is a certain higher threshold no verification is necessary, but below that it is.</ref>