Pregnant Wife of Kohen Entering Ohel HaMes — Sfek Sfeka vs. Tehora Belu'a

Description

The Chasam Sofer addresses whether the Magen Avraham's principle of tehora belu'a makes the Rokeach's sfek sfeka unnecessary for permitting a pregnant Kohen's wife to enter an ohel ha-mes. He argues via a memah nafshach: if the fetus is part of the mother, no prohibition exists for the woman at all (bnei Aharon excludes women); if the fetus has independent status, tehora belu'a applies — either way, the Magen Avraham's point is vindicated. He also reinterprets the Rokeach's nefel language as referring to the fetus's current incomplete state rather than the possibility of future miscarriage.