Question:
Based on last week’s article, https://dinonline.org/2020/07/31/the-mitzva-to-avoid-danger/ that the chiyuv of venishmartem only applies when most people run away from a certain activity or behaviour, but if most people are not afraid, it is not considered a danger, what’s the Halacha concerning taking vitamins as well as exercising on a daily basis, not because I received doctor’s orders to do so, rather because the doctors advise to do so in order to improve one’s health, do I say that since most people are not concerned about it there’s no chiyuv and it’s a lack of bitachon, or maybe since it’s clearly proven in medical science that it’s healthy there is a chiyuv? Also do we include the goyim in this “majority” or not?
Answer:
My understanding of what R’ S. Z. is saying is that he is only discussing something that has a acute danger, and not regarding keeping up a person’s health. Obviously it is dangerous, not to keep up one’s health, but that is not what he is discussing.
My assumption is that included here are all people, as he is is not something that has to do with religion, and people’s practices with regard to religious issues, therefore it would include even non Jews.
Best wishes
