Question:
The gemorah Tanis 29 teaches us to avoid legal actions in Av, as it is roa mazlei, and is quoted in the Shulchan Aruch.
1. Don’t we say elsewhere that “ein mazel le'israel”?
2. There is a biblical prohibition of lo teonun, which is also in the Shulchan Aruch, yo'd, as not trusting specific times, since this is superstitious. How can these 2 be understood?
Thank you
Answer:
Hello,
The Gemara and Chazal are full of references to mazalos (see Shabbos 156a). Ein mazal l’Yisroel means that a yid can rise above the mazalos and isn’t necessarily tied to them. However, there are many things we do because of mazal, as times are considered fortunate or unfortunate. For example, the idea of marrying when the moon is full, and the statement to learn on Rosh Chodesh (Y:D 179-1). Not going to a din torah with a gentile during the beginning of Av, but going during Adar (O:CH 651-1). Also see Biur Hagra Y:D 179-6. The Levush (Y:D 179-2) explains that things known to people should be approached with care because “ein somchin al hanes,” but we are not to go looking for such things. For example, not to investigate when it is a good time to start something, or, as it says, not to check a one’s shadow on the eve of Hoshana Rabba. Additionally, we are not to make up our own suspicions. However, anything that the Gemara discusses or is brought in Shulchan Aruch is known and not included in Lo Tisoninu. Additionally, see Darcei Teshuva Y:D 179-11, that anything that is a mitzva is not included in this (therefore he says that it is permitted at any time of the month, because it is a mitzva).
Best wishes
Sources:
לבוש יורה דעה סימן קעט סעיף ב
ומה שנהגו העולם שאין נושאין נשים אלא במילוי הלבנה, או שאין מתחילין ללמוד אלא בראש חודש, אין זה משום ניחוש אלא לסימן טוב בעלמא. ובב' וד' נמי אין מתחילין משום הכוכבים הצומחים בהם שהם קשים, ומה שאדם יודע שהוא כנגד המזל לא יעשה כי לא יסמוך על הנס, אלא שלכתחילה לא יחקור אחר זה משום תמים תהיה וגו', כמו שנתבאר שלא ישאל ויחקור באיזה יום או באיזה שעה ישלוט הכוכב הטוב או הרע, אבל בימים אלו שיודעים כוכב שלהם בלא חקירה, ישמר מלעשות כנגדם ולא יסמוך על הנס.
