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Daily Daf Dose
Daf Yomi - Yoma 84 - Perform a less severe act even though success is not guaranteed
The halacha is that when feeding a sick person with forbidden food, we initially attempt to feed him the food that is least severe in punishment regarding its consumption. The Sefer Toras HaYoledes wonders what the halacha would be in a situation where the food that is more severe in punishment for its consumption will certainly heal the person, whereas the food that is more lenient regarding the punishment for its consumption will not definitely heal the ill person. Do we disregard the certainty of the former food and feed the patient the food that is less severe in punishment for its consumption? It is clear that this question is only relevant when there is time to attempt feeding the patient the food that is less severe in punishment regarding its consumption. If this was not the case, it is clear that we would feed the patient the food that would certainly cure him. The Toras HaYoledes offers a proof from Tosfos here who writes that the Gemara states that one can extinguish a fire on Shabbos or one can set up utensils that are filled with water which will cause the fire to be extinguished. Tosfos wonders why the Gemara found it necessary to state that one can place utensils near the fire to cause it to be extinguished if we have already been taught that one can extinguish the fire directly. In his second answer, Tosfos explains that one would have thought that one is permitted to extinguish a fire directly because one will accomplish what he has set out to do. When one places utensils near the fire to extinguish the fire, however, it is possible that he will not accomplish what he set out to do, i.e., extinguishing the fire, and one would have thought that such an act should not be permitted. The Gemara therefore felt it necessary to teach us that even if one is not certain of the outcome, he can place the utensils near the fire to cause the fire to be extinguished. The Toras HaYoledes understands from the words of Tosfos that placing the utensils near the fire is only a rabbinical prohibition, as such an act will cause the fire to be extinguished indirectly. Since the act is only prohibited rabbinically, we prefer that one exercise this approach even though he may not accomplish what he has set out to do. Hence, we have a proof that one must always attempt to perform the act that is less severe in punishment even though one cannot be certain of success.
The halacha is that when feeding a sick person with forbidden food, we initially attempt to feed him the food that is least severe in punishment regarding its consumption. The Sefer Toras HaYoledes wonders what the halacha would be in a situation where the food that is more severe in punishment for its consumption will certainly heal the person, whereas the food that is more lenient regarding the punishment for its consumption will not definitely heal the ill person. Do we disregard the certainty of the former food and feed the patient the food that is less severe in punishment for its consumption? It is clear that this question is only relevant when there is time to attempt feeding the patient the food that is less severe in punishment regarding its consumption. If this was not the case, it is clear that we would feed the patient the food that would certainly cure him. The Toras HaYoledes offers a proof from Tosfos here who writes that the Gemara states that one can extinguish a fire on Shabbos or one can set up utensils that are filled with water which will cause the fire to be extinguished. Tosfos wonders why the Gemara found it necessary to state that one can place utensils near the fire to cause it to be extinguished if we have already been taught that one can extinguish the fire directly. In his second answer, Tosfos explains that one would have thought that one is permitted to extinguish a fire directly because one will accomplish what he has set out to do. When one places utensils near the fire to extinguish the fire, however, it is possible that he will not accomplish what he set out to do, i.e., extinguishing the fire, and one would have thought that such an act should not be permitted. The Gemara therefore felt it necessary to teach us that even if one is not certain of the outcome, he can place the utensils near the fire to cause the fire to be extinguished. The Toras HaYoledes understands from the words of Tosfos that placing the utensils near the fire is only a rabbinical prohibition, as such an act will cause the fire to be extinguished indirectly. Since the act is only prohibited rabbinically, we prefer that one exercise this approach even though he may not accomplish what he has set out to do. Hence, we have a proof that one must always attempt to perform the act that is less severe in punishment even though one cannot be certain of success.
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