עברית
Holidays
Sightings of Semen on Yom Kippur
Question
Hello, esteemed Rabbi,
I study in a hesder yeshiva,
and I am about to enlist in combat service.
On the last Yom Kippur, on my way home after the Musaf service,
I went to rest before Mincha and Ne'ilah.
On the way, I saw someone and I failed in guarding my eyes (I was looking there for pleasure; I should mention she was married).
When I went to sleep before Mincha, I think I had a sighting of semen (I’m not sure, and I also don’t know if such a thing can occur at night during an afternoon nap).
When I woke up, I regretted it and prayed about it during Mincha and Ne'ilah,
and since then, it has slipped my mind.
However, now that I am about to enlist, I remembered this and started to worry, because I fear that something may happen to me during combat service, as it is written that one who sees a sighting of semen should be concerned for the entire year, and certainly for me, it came from thoughts.
I would appreciate an answer.
Thank you in advance.
Answer
Hello and blessings,
Rest assured, for indeed it is written in the Gemara Yoma (page 88a) that one who sees a sighting of semen on Yom Kippur should be concerned for the entire year. However, many great authorities have already written that this applies only when there are no natural explanations, such as thoughts or an abundance of eating and drinking, as then it is a bad sign shown to him from Above. However, when the sighting can be attributed to natural causes, such as thoughts, it is not included in what the Gemara says about being concerned for the entire year, as elaborated in the responsa Yabia Omer, Part VI (Orach Chaim, section 44).
Good tidings,
Hillel Meirs
