Doubt About the Need to Relieve Oneself
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Question
Hello, A Jew who wakes up in the morning and begins Shacharit, finishes "Hodu" with the congregation, and is unsure whether he needs to relieve himself, meaning he feels a slight need but is not sure if it is real yet. He has the option to go and relieve himself and check, but it is likely he will miss the prayer with the minyan and won't have time to wait for another minyan. In this situation, after the fact, the Jew did not go to relieve himself, continued with the Amidah with the congregation, and after about 30 minutes when he finished the prayer with the congregation, he felt a more real need and indeed went to relieve himself. What should a Jew do in such a situation initially? How can one decide what to do when the need is not definitely real but progresses over time?
Answer
Hello
The general rule is that only a clear need is a reason to require relieving oneself; unclear feelings are merely 'nerves', and there is no point in going to relieve oneself.
Source
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 92