safek

English

safek (plural sfekot)

(Judaism) A doubt, uncertainty
- 1996 May 6, Art Kamlet, “***Israeli Citizenship***”, in soc.culture.jewish‎^[1] (Usenet):
  The safek inherent in whether the dead brother had a child or not.
- 2000 November 19, Abe Cohen, “Naomi's outburst”, in soc.culture.jewish.moderated‎^[2] (Usenet):
  What's "ethnically" Hungarian about them? Perhaps, and I have some sfekot, [they are] ethnically Jewish.
(Judaism) A possibility, chance
- 1996 April 29, Jonathan Kamens, “Question on love affairs and illegitimate children”, in soc.culture.jewish‎^[3] (Usenet):
  Even in cases where there is some doubt if the intent of marriage existed in both parties, the rabbis might demand that they get divorced with a get, since there is a safek that they may be married according to Torah law and therefore it is best to issue a get to remove all doubt and therefore remove any chance that the woman's future children might be mamzerim.
(Judaism) A doubtful case; something that is up for debate
- 2003, J. H. Henkin, Responsa on Contemporary Jewish Women's Issues, KTAV Publishing House, Inc., →ISBN, page 58:
  However, we rule that it is a safek and accordingly the blessing should not be recited.