The definition of Kulos/Chumros and the psak halachah.

Reading the Ywn Coffee room the last few days I see there is much confusion in what the definition of a kula and a chumra is. So I will try to explain the way I understand it.

Firstly, I think one must know there is really six dinim. 1. The Psak Halachah (me’ikar hadin) 2. Chumra 3. Kula 4. Radical Chumros ( Hanhagah) 5. Minhag 6. Am aratzus ( against halachah.

Now let us try to explain each one.

1. THE PSAK HALACHAH/ Me’ikar Hadin. This category is the Halachah anyone in a normal circumstance is required to do. These halachos are the basic law. It can usually be found in the mishnah berurah or another sefer of the sort. This category also includes the teshuva you get when you ask your rav a sheilah. It is normally simple what comes under this area, but many times people overlook a lot of it. When we have a machlokes haposkim the ikar din is the psak halachah that your Local Orthodox Rabbi tells you you must do. This is the main level.

2. Then there is the basic CHUMRAH. A Chumrah is basically more than what you are required to do by the psak din. A simple example of a chumra is Since there is a machlokes haposkim what berachah you make on a granola bar, you try to avoid eating it. But you already asked your rav what berachah you make, but to refrain from machlokes you will only eat it in middle of the se’udah. Another basic eample is that by zmanim, pashtus we hold the halchah is like the geonim (first shekiah) but many will not do melachah on motzey shabbos until it is past the time of rabbeinu tam. It is more than what is required from you.

3. Now there is something called a KULA. It means less or below the required law. A kula should only be used bshas hadchak or bdi eved when no other option is available. Most times a kula will be , relying on rabbonim or achronim who the halchah is not clearly like in regular circumstances. An example can be eating before tekias shofar. Most Poskim will hold that it is better not to, but if you do, you have whom to rely on. Also when there is a choleh shein bo sakana on shabbos, the halachah is that you are allowed to rely on many kulos.

4. Now there is something else which al pi halachah there is no real place for. Let’s call it Hanhaga. Many times you will find people being much more makpid thatn required. But no poskim hold that this is the real halacha. They do this more because they are choshesh/nervous to do every prat right. An example is hearing extra tekious or listening to parshas zachor many times. Another example is not to use an eruv. These are more radical, and some find it necessary to make fun of those that are makpid. BUt really it makes no sense to make fun of someont trying extra hard to keep the torah. The problem arises when the makpidim think that anyone who does not do as they do are reahaim

5. A minhag is what you do because yor father did or does it. It may or may not have a source in halachah but you are required to continue doing so anyway ( unless instructed other wise by a rav) A famous example is gebrokts on pesach

6. This level was called the Kula creep. I call it am aratzus. Basically it is against halacha. People sometimes also go kula jumping, finding the posek who is the most meikil in every case and rely on him. But when those rabbonim are machmir, they disregard there words . An example is a litvishe using chasidim to be soimech on to miss zman krias shma.

Now with that explained one should know what many call a chumra for others is me’ikar hadin. An example of this is opening bottles on shabbos. For many the psak is to permit and a chumra will be not to while to others the psak is not to open. So what people were calling chumras in the chumrah therad for many that is the halacha. an example is rav Elyashiv and Rav Ovadiah Yosef asuur wearing shaitels. The latter was listed as a chumra.