What is the food measure that triggers karet on Yom Kippur?
A large date's bulk — uniquely small for Yom Kippur. The Rambam specifies it's less than an egg, making the threshold stricter than most other food-related measures.
Question 2
A person eats a small amount of food, waits 20 minutes, then eats another small amount. Do they combine?
The time window (k'dei achilat pras) is essential. Foods eaten within that span combine; longer gaps mean each eating event is assessed independently. This is the basis for feeding the sick in spaced small amounts.
Question 3
You chew dried pepper on Yom Kippur. Are you liable for karet?
Dried pepper chewed is not considered "eating" in the halachic sense — it's not food fit for consumption. Fresh ginger, however, IS liable because it's edible. The Rambam draws precise lines.
Question 4
A dangerously ill person on Yom Kippur needs food. What does the Rambam say?
The Rambam is emphatic: feed the dangerously ill. No waiting for a doctor, no hesitation. Pikuach nefesh (saving life) overrides Yom Kippur without qualification.
Question 5
A pregnant woman smells food on Yom Kippur and feels faint. What is the procedure?
The two-step procedure: (1) whisper "it's Yom Kippur" — sometimes the reminder itself settles the craving. (2) If not, feed her without hesitation. A compassionate, staged approach.