Daf Yomi One Week at a Time: Nedarim

This week we will learn what a Neder (vow) is and how one can obligate or prohibit something to themselves. The Gemara describes different ways one can make a vow and if partial declarations are valid.  We will also learn about the prohibition of not delaying a mitzvah.

This week we will learn that it is permissible to take a vow to fulfill a mitzvah. The Gemara explains that if a person dreamt that they were excommunicated, they need ten people to release them from the excommunication. The Gemara then describes different words or terms that can be used to crate a vow.

This week we will learn the proper format to create a vow or an oath and the difference between the two. One can prohibit one’s mouth from speaking to another person or feet from walking with another person. We will learn how vows are more stringent than oaths in some ways and how oaths are more stringent than vows in other ways.

This week we will focus on four types of vows that are automatically void. These include vows meant to motivate someone to do something, vows that are exaggerated, unintentional vows, and vows whose consequences are out of our control. The Gemara explains and gives several examples for each type of vow.

This week we will continue discussing the power of the spoken word. When someone makes a vow against benefiting from a specific group of people, the Gemara interprets the vow in particular ways. The Mishna and the Gemara give many examples of types of vows and how we interpret their meanings. We will also learn about the legal ramifications of vowing against deriving benefit from a specific person.

This week we will learn if a teacher of Torah is allowed to receive payment for his teaching. The Gemara continues explaining permissible acts that one can do for someone who is forbidden to get benefit from them. We will also learn about the great importance of visiting the sick.

We will continue to learn about inclusions and exceptions to a vow prohibiting someone from benefiting from someone else. We will learn the entire fifth chapter of Nedarim this week. The Gemara teaches about partners that vow to not benefit from each other and the subsequent ramifications. Lastly, we will begin the sixth chapter with defining what one means when taking particular vows.

This week we are going to continue learning how the Mishna and Gemara interpret different vows. The Gemara teaches that we generally go according to the way people speak. We will also learn that vows prohibiting general categories of items, will prohibit specific things as well.

This week we will learn about vows that have set time limits. The Gemara interprets nuances in language that can be used in vows.

This week we will learn the ninth chapter of Masechet Nedarim. We will learn the concept of “finding an opening (Petach)” to annul a vow. We will see what constitutes a proper Petach and what can’t be used as a Petach. We will then begin the tenth chapter and learn that a girl’s father or husband can revoke her vow (if it affects him).

This week we will continue learning about the ability of the father and the husband-to-be to revoke the woman’s vows. This must be done together and on the same day that they heard about the vow. We will learn what happens if one of the men dies.  We will also learn about a similar case of a woman who is waiting to do yibum and who has the ability to revoke her vows.

This week we will learn the law if a husband is silent about his wife’s vow. Does his silence signify confirmation or is he trying to distress her? We will also learn what type of vows a husband or father can revoke.

As we finish Masechet Nedarim this week, we will learn about cases the husband or the father can’t revoke a woman’s vow. We will learn about specific instances where a woman’s vow goes into effect right away. The Gemara ends with discussing times when a woman is believed in her accusations against her husband and other times she isn’t believed. We will finish our discussion of Masechet Nedarim with an understanding of the power of words and a sensitivity to how we wield them.