✦ ❖ ✦ D A A T · L E V E L 3 — S Y N T H E S I S / R E V I E W ✦ ❖ ✦
Siman 111 — Attribution (Tolin / Shani Omer) and Mixtures That Combine in Doubt (Hakol Nichnas be-Safek)
דִּין תּוֹלִין לְהָקֵל וְהַכֹּל נִכְנָס בְּסָפֵק
Attribution (תולין / שאני אומר), rabbinic vs Toraitic prohibition, מין במינו by majority / אינו מינו by 60, two pots of permitted (מאי חזית), successive falls, the combination of house / attic of one person
Structured review, master grid, fast memorization
Source: Shulchan Aroukh, Yoreh De'ah קי״א — 7 seifim
Nossei kelim: ש״ך (Shach) · ט״ז (Taz) · פר״מ (Pri Megadim) · פתחי תשובה (Pithei Teshuva)
Compiled by: הרב יוסף חיים סממה · DAAT
For students who have mastered Levels 1 and 2
daattorah.com
📑 Outline of the synthesis
- The axiom: the light doubt — we attribute (תולין) to the forbidden side
- The 3 reflex questions: rabbinic or Toraitic · majority? · same species or not
- The master grid: when תולין להקל and the majority thresholds
- The 5 golden rules
- Mnemonic — the "תולין" memory aid
- The 4 classic pitfalls
- Recap of the 7 seifim — one line each
- Final flashcard
1. The axiom: the light doubt — we attribute (תולין) to the forbidden side
The starting point:
Siman 111 is the direct continuation of Siman 110 on the laws of doubt. The model case: two pots, one of permitted and one of forbidden, and before them two pieces, one permitted and one forbidden; they fall into each other without our knowing where. Instead of forbidding, we attribute (תולין) by saying: the forbidden fell into the forbidden and the permitted into the permitted — this is the "שאני אומר" ("I say") of יבמות פב. But this תולין להקל is potent only for a rabbinic prohibition (דרבנן) (or a Toraitic prohibition nullified by majority), since the foundation is ספק דרבנן לקולא; for an ordinary Toraitic prohibition, a real majority of permitted is required (seif 3).
| Path | Rabbinic prohibition (דרבנן) | Toraitic prohibition (דאורייתא) |
|---|
| We attribute (תולין / שאני אומר) | Yes, even without a majority of permitted | No — unless a majority that nullifies מן התורה |
| Foundation | ספק דרבנן לקולא + שאני אומר | Nullification by majority (ביטול ברוב) |
| The threshold מין במינו / אינו מינו | The forbidden must not be the majority (seif 2) | מין במינו = majority; אינו מינו = 60 (seif 4) |
💡 The marker: this siman no longer asks "is there taste" (siman 98) but "where did the forbidden fall" — and permits, through שאני אומר, attributing it to the forbidden side. The force of this leniency depends on the severity of the prohibition (דרבנן vs דאורייתא) and on what is the majority. And all rests on the condition: the forbidden must not be more abundant than the permitted (seif 2).
2. The 3 reflex questions
■ RABBINIC OR TORAITIC? (איסור דרבנן / דאורייתא) — is the prohibition rabbinic (e.g. שומנו של גיד)? Then we attribute leniently even without a majority (seif 1). If it is from the Torah, we do not attribute — a majority that nullifies it מן התורה is required (seif 3).
↓ we look at the proportion
■ IS THE FORBIDDEN THE MAJORITY? (האיסור מרובה) — even for a rabbinic prohibition, we attribute leniently only as long as the forbidden is not more abundant than the permitted. If the forbidden is the majority → we do not attribute (seif 2).
↓ we look at the species
■ SAME SPECIES OR NOT? (מין במינו / אינו מינו) — for a Toraitic prohibition nullified by majority: מין במינו → the majority suffices (a bit more permitted), for מן התורה בטל ברוב; אינו מינו → 60 is required (seif 4).
⚖ The "הכל נכנס בספק" — the combination (seif 7)
Two pots of permitted, a forbidden fell into one without our knowing which, and none alone has enough to nullify it — but the two together do: they combine (מצטרפות) to nullify it. And not only that: even one in the house and one in the attic (אחת בבית ואחת בעלייה), and likewise up to a hundred. Condition: the two belong to one single person (since whatever is one person's is destined to be mixed); to two people → no combination. Rama: יש מחמירין even for one person; in case of loss, we permit for one person, but one eats only after mixing (then the forbidden is already nullified).
3. The master grid: when תולין להקל and the thresholds
An absolute must to memorize. Basis: Mehaber seifim 1-4, read with the Taz (s.k. 1-3) and the Shach (s.k. 1-3).
| Situation | Decisive criterion | Result |
|---|
| 2 pots (permitted/forbidden) + 2 pieces (permitted/forbidden), rabbinic prohibition |
שאני אומר: the forbidden into the forbidden |
🟢 Permitted, even if the permitted is not more abundant (seif 1) |
| 1 pot of permitted + one of the 2 pieces fell in (rabbinic) |
We attribute: it is the permitted that fell |
🟢 Permitted, even without a majority (seif 1) |
| 1 piece of rabbinic-forbidden + 2 pots (permitted/forbidden) |
We attribute leniently |
🟢 Permitted (seif 1) |
| Rabbinic prohibition but more abundant than the permitted |
The forbidden is the majority |
🔴 We do not attribute leniently (seif 2) |
| Toraitic prohibition, without a majority of permitted |
שאני אומר does not suffice |
🔴 We do not attribute (seif 3) |
| Toraitic prohibition, מין במינו, permitted slightly the majority |
מן התורה בטל ברוב |
🟢 We attribute leniently (seif 4) |
| Toraitic prohibition, אינו מינו |
60 times the permitted is required |
🟡 We attribute only with 60 (seif 4) |
| 2 pots of permitted + 2 pieces (permitted/forbidden), one in each |
מאי חזית — none has enough to nullify |
🔴 Both forbidden, even rabbinic (seif 5) |
📌 Key reading: for tolin, first ask is the prohibition rabbinic (otherwise a majority that nullifies מן התורה is needed), then is the forbidden not the majority. For the combination (seif 7), look at one person or two, and — for loss per the Rama — mix first. The distinction מין במינו / אינו מינו sets the threshold (majority vs 60).
4. The 5 golden rules
- "תולין לומר האיסור נפל לתוך האיסור". For a rabbinic prohibition, we attribute leniently, even if the permitted is not more abundant than the piece (Mehaber seif 1).
- Only if the forbidden is not the majority. We attribute as long as the forbidden too is not more abundant than the permitted; forbidden the majority → we do not attribute (Mehaber seif 2).
- Toraitic prohibition → a majority of permitted. No lenient שאני אומר as long as the permitted does not nullify it מן התורה; מין במינו = majority, אינו מינו = 60 (Mehaber seif 3-4).
- "מאי חזית" — two pots of permitted. 2 pieces (permitted/forbidden) fallen one in each → both forbidden, even rabbinic, unless one has enough to nullify (Mehaber seif 5).
- "הכל נכנס בספק" — the combination. Two pots that enter the doubt combine for the 60, even far apart, provided they belong to one single person (Mehaber seif 7).
5. Mnemonic — the "תולין" memory aid
"תּוֹלִין" — after the תולין (we attribute) of seif 1
- תּ — Tolin derabbanan: for a rabbinic prohibition, we attribute the forbidden to the forbidden side — even without a majority.
- וֹ — Order (proportion): only if the forbidden is not the majority relative to the permitted.
- לִ — La-Torah (Toraitic): a Toraitic prohibition requires a majority of permitted — מין במינו majority, אינו מינו 60.
- יֹ — Standing alone (מאי חזית): two pots of permitted → both forbidden, unless one nullifies.
- ן — Nichnas be-safek (combination): two pots combine for the 60 — of one person, destined to be mixed.
The ladder of the majority threshold (seifim 2-4)
- דרבנן, forbidden not the majority → שאני אומר suffices, even without a majority
- דרבנן, forbidden is the majority → we do not attribute (seif 2)
- דאורייתא מין במינו → majority of permitted (בטל ברוב מן התורה)
- דאורייתא אינו מינו → 60 times the permitted is required
6. The 4 classic pitfalls
❌ Pitfall 1 — Applying תולין to a Toraitic prohibition: the שאני אומר of seif 1 is potent only for a rabbinic prohibition (the foundation being ספק דרבנן לקולא). For a prohibition from the Torah, we do not attribute as long as the permitted does not nullify it by majority (seif 3). Never read seif 1 as a blank check for every doubt.
❌ Pitfall 2 — Forgetting that the forbidden must not be the majority: even for a rabbinic prohibition, the leniency of "we attribute" falls the moment the forbidden is more abundant than the permitted (seif 2). The "even if the permitted is not more abundant" of seif 1 holds only as long as the forbidden too is not. The Taz (s.k. 1) stresses that this doubt "שאני אומר — it did not fall here" is lighter than an ordinary ספק דאורייתא (cf. siman 66).
❌ Pitfall 3 — Confusing two pots of permitted (seif 5) with the model case (seif 1): in the model case, one of the pots is already forbidden, so attributing the forbidden to its side loses nothing. But with two pots of permitted and two pieces (permitted/forbidden) fallen one in each, attributing the forbidden to one would forbid the permitted of the other: "מאי חזית" — why this one rather than that one? → both forbidden, even for a rabbinic prohibition, unless one has enough to nullify the forbidden (seif 5).
❌ Pitfall 4 — The combination and the two people: the "הכל נכנס בספק" that combines two pots to reach the 60 holds only for one single person (since whatever is one person's is destined to be mixed); for two people, they do not combine. And according to the Rama, יש מחמירין even for one person; in case of loss we permit, but we mix first the two pots — only then is the forbidden nullified.
For the halacha le-ma'aseh, consult your Rav.
7. Recap of the 7 seifim — one line each
| Seif | Topic | The essential |
|---|
| 1 | תולין for a rabbinic prohibition | 3 scenarios: (a) 2 pots + 2 pieces; (b) 1 pot of permitted + one of the 2 pieces; (c) 1 piece + 2 pots. Rabbinic prohibition (e.g. שומנו של גיד) → we attribute the forbidden to the forbidden side (שאני אומר, Yevamot 82), permitted even if the permitted is not more abundant. |
| 2 | Only if the forbidden is not the majority | All this ("even if the permitted is not more abundant") holds only as long as the forbidden too is not more abundant than the permitted; forbidden the majority → we do not attribute leniently. |
| 3 | Toraitic prohibition: majority required | For a prohibition from the Torah, we do not attribute (to say it fell into the forbidden) as long as the permitted is not abundant enough to nullify it מן התורה. |
| 4 | When the permitted is the majority; מין במינו / אינו מינו | Permitted that nullifies מן התורה → we attribute. Piece of נבילה into one of 2 pots: מין במינו → a bit more permitted suffices (בטל ברוב מן התורה); אינו מינו → 60 times is required. |
| 5 | Two pots of permitted + 2 pieces | 2 pots of permitted, 2 pieces (permitted/forbidden), one in each → both forbidden, even rabbinic (מאי חזית), if none has enough to nullify; but if one has enough to nullify → both permitted. |
| 6 | Successive falls | Forbidden fell into one knowing which, then into one not knowing → "the second where the first fell" (the other permitted). Unknown then known → both forbidden. [Rama: only absent 60; with 60 → as if nothing fell (B"Y in the name of the Rashba).] |
| 7 | הכל נכנס בספק — the combination | 2 pots of permitted, forbidden in one (unknown), none alone has enough to nullify but the two together do → they combine, even one in the house and one in the attic, up to a hundred — for one single person (destined to be mixed); two people → no. [Rama: יש מחמירין even for one person; loss → permitted but mix first.] |
8. Final flashcard
| Question | Reflex answer | Source |
|---|
| Rabbinic prohibition, 2 pots + 2 pieces? | We attribute: the forbidden into the forbidden → permitted | Mehaber seif 1 |
| 1 pot of permitted + one of the 2 pieces fell in? | We attribute: it is the permitted that fell → permitted | Mehaber seif 1 |
| Is the forbidden the majority? | Yes → we do not attribute leniently | Mehaber seif 2 |
| Toraitic prohibition? | We do not attribute unless a majority that nullifies מן התורה | Mehaber seif 3; Taz s.k. 1 |
| מין במינו or אינו מינו? | מין במינו = majority; אינו מינו = 60 | Mehaber seif 4; Shach s.k. 3 |
| Two pots of permitted + 2 pieces? | Both forbidden (מאי חזית), unless one nullifies | Mehaber seif 5; Shach s.k. 11 |
| Successive falls (known then unknown)? | The second where the first → the other permitted | Mehaber seif 6 |
| Combine two pots for the 60? | Yes, even house/attic, if one single person | Mehaber seif 7; Rama |
| Loss, one single person (Rama)? | Permitted, but mix the two first | Rama seif 7 |
⚖ The reflex in 3 questions
- Is the prohibition rabbinic? Yes → we attribute (שאני אומר) to the forbidden side, even without a majority. Toraitic → majority required (מין במינו majority, אינו מינו 60).
- Is the forbidden the majority? Yes → we do not attribute leniently. Two pots of permitted → מאי חזית, both forbidden unless one nullifies.
- Can we combine? הכל נכנס בספק: two pots combine for the 60, even far apart — of one single person. Loss (Rama) → mix first.
For the halacha le-ma'aseh, consult your Rav.
🎓 Recap of the study path
| Level | Content | Acquired |
|---|
| 🌱 Level 1 — Base |
Text of the 7 seifim, translation, clear tables |
Overall understanding |
| ⚡ Level 2 — Lamdan |
Yesod of שאני אומר and ספק דרבנן לקולא, the קל וחומר of the bavot (Taz), the Ramban / Rashba machloket on the two people and the combination |
In-depth study |
| ✨ Level 3 — Synthesis |
Master grid, golden rules, mnemonic, pitfalls, recap of the seifim |
Practical mastery + review |
💡 Suggested next steps:
- Re-read Siman קי״א in the original Choulhan Aroukh (Hebrew) with the Shach and the Taz
- Study the adjacent Simanim: 110 (the laws of doubt, of which this siman is the continuation), 98 (tasting / 60 and the measure), 99 (ביטול ברוב and יבש ביבש), 101 (davar hashouv / ראוי להתכבד), 109 (the doubt in mixtures)
- Delve into Yevamot 82 (the two baskets חולין / תרומה, "תרומה לתוך תרומה") and the yesod of שאני אומר
- Discuss personal cases with a Rav (a forbidden ingredient fallen into one of two pots, combining two dishes to reach the 60) — the halacha le-ma'aseh is decided with a Rav
📖 Sources of this siman on Sefaria:
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
DAAT · הרב יוסף חיים סממה
תלמיד חכם · מעביר שיעורים בהלכה ובחסידות
סימן קי״א · Level 3 — Synthesis / Review · דין תולין וצירוף בספק
daattorah.com