Lechatchillah and be'deved

Answer

Answered by Aaron Abadi

Lechatchilah means that before doing it, mixing it, using that pot, etc... you want to know is it OK. Then if it is not OK Lechatchilah, you should not. Sometimes this is due to a commandment in the Torah and other times it is only a Chumrah (a law that the Rabbis are extra strict on) or a Minhag (custom). If it was already mixed, done, etc.. and you now want to eat this questionable item, then if BediAved it is OK, then you may eat this. For example, if you want to put a drop of milk into a pot of chicken soup, your answer will be that it is not allowed (leChatchillah). However, if a drop of milk fell into the soup, and the soup contains 60 times the milk, then it is permitted, because it is BediAvad, which is literally transalated when it was already done. This soup can now be eaten by any and all people Le'chatchilah, since it happened already. The confusion that most have is that they mix up BediAvad with Beshaat Hadechak. If it say that something is permitted Beshaat Hadechak only, that would mean in a time where you are in a bind or it is very important or urgent to use this or do that. That is very different than BediAvad. That is a case where under normal circumstances this item or action is not permitted. This is one of the most common misconceptions in Halachah causing complete confusion to many. To recap.... LeChatchilah.... In the beginning, before it happened. Bedi'Avad.... After it happened already. BeShaat HaDechak.... In a time of urgency. Three distinctly different rules. One who says that he does not want to eat something that is OK Bedi'Avad, because he does not need to eat Bedi'Avads, is considered a (Hedyot) fool..... This was written in many places, but is very clear and outright in the Teshuvot (Responsa) of the RAM"A. AA