[Avodah] chumrot

[Eli Turkel via Avodah]

In light of the comments of Rabbi Folger and others let me restate my
opinion of chumrot.
There are several levels of chumrot and kulot

1) The chumrah is personal and doesn't affect anyone else - perfectly OK
but one shouldn't gloat or look down on those who don't accept the chumra
2) At the other extreme are things like monetary manners where every chumra
for one side is a kula for the other side
3) For things in between one has to compare the chumra to the "price" being
paid

So for kitniyot - the prohibition is relatively mild  but OTOH doing
without the specific kitniyot is not a major deal either (in most cases)
I personally get annoyed at husbands that won't carry (or push the
carriage) even with an eruv but the wife does everything. I am not sure how
much the women really volunteer. In any case the hardship is relatively
mild (again in most cases)

The harder cases are where the prohibition is more severe but the effects
are more severe
Examples from before include shabbat problems that might prevent one from
leaving home every shabbat and ruining on a long term basis
oneg shabbat. As Rabbi Folger points out various cases of gittin. Also
cases involving DNA or other forms of controversial evidence.

The main point R Avraham was making is that rabbis who take a
"conservative: stance are not always being machmir since the effect on
others may be severe. At times the more innovative approach may be the real
conservative way. i.e. it saves the principle of the halacha rather than
just some formality which is no longer relevant.
-- 
Eli Turkel
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