2,862. What Is a Koi?

Hilchos Nezirus 2:9

Similar to the case in the previous halacha, let’s say that someone says that he’ll be a nazir if a heap of grain contains 100 kor (a measure of volume). He goes to measure it and finds that some of the grain was lost or stolen. In such a case, one is not rendered a nazir; the same rules apply in all comparable cases. The reason is because doubtful cases of nezirus are ruled leniently.

Hilchos Nezirus 2:10

Let’s say that several people were walking on the road and they saw a koi (an animal of doubtful status). One says that he’ll be a nazir if it’s a wild animal; another says that he’ll be a nazir if it’s a domesticated animal; another says he’ll be a nazir if it’s not a wild animal; another says he’ll be a nazir if it’s a not a domesticated animal; another says he’ll be a nazir if it’s neither a wild nor a domesticated animal; and another says he’ll be a nazir if it’s both a wild and a domesticated animal. In such a case, all of them are rendered nazirs. The reason for this is because a koi is in some ways like a wild animal, in others like a domesticated animal, in some ways like both, and in others, like neither. The same rules apply if they saw an intersex person (“hermaphrodite”) and debated as to whether they saw a man or a woman. (See the next halacha for important clarification.)