Talking Talmud

2 mishnayot - beginning with taking a vow like the nezirut of Shimshon (Samson), with different phrasings that all refer to him. But why use all the details?! Also, what's the difference between this kind of nazir and a regular nazir? Beginning with sacrifices, and hair-trimming, and the issues of becoming impure from contact with the dead. Plus, of course, the way one becomes a nazir. Also, the s...

A note on Rivan, the son-in-law of Rashi, who takes his place, as it were, in Nazir. || Wording the vow to become a nazir - with a plan to become "beautiful." Is that enough to count as a nazir's vow? Is that physical beauty or the beauty of mitzvot? Plus, the beauty if long curly locks. Also, a new mishnah: mentioning part of nezirut counts as a vow to be a full nazir. And the Gemara explaining t...

An introduction to Nazir, including its placement in Seder Nashim, and following Nedarim. An introduction to chapter 1, including the biblical source for nezirut. And the opening of the masekhet, with discussion of how one takes on nezirut with an articulated statement, and the ambivalence about this optional asceticism, which will be discussed at greater length going forward.

The case of a woman who says to and about her husband that he divorced her - is she to be believed? Also, narrative preceding halakhah with regard to the behavior that follows potentially misspoken words, especially as pertaining to the marital bed and its aftermath.

The Gemara presents Rav Pappi’s version of the machloket between Rabbi Natan and the Chachamim. Plus the last Mishnah of our Masechet!

3 mishnayot, addressing how the father can revoke a daughter's vows, with what terms and what exception, what to pay attention to, etc. Plus, the 9 women whose vows are upheld and can't be revoked. Also, conditional vows that complicate the lives of everyone, and whether they can be revoked or nullified.

When the sages contradict their own opinions, specifically via a parallel case if inadvertent homicide and a blind person, as compared to Nedarim. Also, a new mishnah: when a father wants to give money or property to his daughter, but not to her husband, his son-in-law. That is, the question of whether what she acquires is also immediately acquired by him.

The case of a man who discovers later that he didn't have all the details at the time he revoked a vow. With a parallel to tearing keriyah in mourning, and introducing how long it takes to revise the information of the situation. Plus, a mishnah about a woman who swears off figs and grapes, and that vow is revoked apparently partially - is that sufficient? Plus a second mishnah on one who doesn't...

In memory and tribute of our teacher Rabbi Moshe Kahn z"l || More on the question of a vow about something that doesn't yet exist, in parallel to a field that is to be consecrated in the future, and why that parallel doesn't work... Until the Gemara figures out how it could work as a legitimate parallel. Also, what exactly does a husband own in the relationship, as tricky as that question may feel...

A new mishnah - a woman who makes the things she produces off-limits from her father, brother, in-laws... The husband can revoke the vow. She can't take those same things away from her husband. But what if she made more than the required amount, and that's the part she was making off-limits to her husband? He should still revoke the vow. Especially if they get divorced one day, and that vow would...

A woman who has sworn off benefit from people, and can still eat from the agricultural mitzvot of charity, but it doesn't mention ma'aser ani. But is that lack of mention because she can't eat from ma'aser ani? What are the implications of demai (uncertainty with regard to whether tithes have been taken). Note that ma'aser ani doesn't have kedushah, as some other such mitzvot do. Also, the questio...

What did R. Yochanan mean about partial revoking of vows? With the parallel to nezirut, and how it can't be separated in its vow. Plus, when a woman swears off benefit from others, and the husband cannot revoke that vow, she can indeed eat from leket, shikhcha, and pe'ah - because they're mitzvot. Is the husband included in the "everyone" though? (It's a machloket)

More on the husband's revoking his wife's vows, and how he cannot do so when it comes to a vow she makes pertaining to a third party. Though when the vow can be extended as pertaining to his household, then he can revoke. Also, if one makes a vow that includes self-affliction and no self-affliction in the same vow (e.g., two loaves of bread, one of which is affliction to miss out on and another wh...

Why are the children of Torah scholars not themselves also Torah scholars? With several possible answers. Also, going back to a wife's nedarim that do not involve self-affliction. The husband can then revoke the vows if they pertain to the couple's relationship, but if they pertain to her connection to others, he cannot revoke them. But if her vows pertain to both of them, he can revoke them.

A study of self-affliction: what is "inui"? What needs to be prohibited from oneself? With bathing as the example. Also, the question of how not bathing is suffering (or not, as the case may be) in the context of Yom Kippur, and where the karet punishment might kick in. Note that discomfort and affliction may not quite define halakhic "inui."

Finishing the 10 chapter of Nedarim on the husband who revokes his wife's vows, as needed. And... beginning chapter 11, with a new mishnah on a vow taken by a woman that afflicts her, and which her husband or father can then revoke. Some of which might affect him or their relationship. Which means that the vows that bring about self-affliction need to be explored and defined. Also, some rationale...

Again, nullifying vs. revoking - hatarat vs. hafarat nedarim. As learned from "zeh ha-davar," as worded in the biblical verse. Plus, a gezerag shavah with regard to a vow of consecration that can be annulled. Plus, the festivals as paralleled to the vows (or vice versa). Plus, the sources for the conclusion, whether logic or verses or gezerah shavah. Also, when a husband refrains from immediate re...

Revoking and annulling vows on Shabbat - the latter, specifically for things needed that same Shabbat. Plus, revoking vows at night - but why does this need to be stated? What happens when the vow is made on Shabbat? Wrapping up these issues, or almost. Also, can judges nullify a vow while standing? Rabban Gamliel dismounted his donkey to adjudicate a case... Does that answer the case? Plus, the s...

More on the question of whether one can nullify vows in advance. With a parallel to the impurity and purity of seeds. Also, a new mishnah, on the "day" that the vow can be revoked. Plus, the Gemara on how to define the day - is it 24 hours or specifically the calendar date that the vow is made.

A new mishnah: Vows that haven't yet been made can't be ratified in advance. Revoking in advance is a machloket, however. But how would revoking in advance actually work? Also, can a man revoke his wife's vow before she's even made them?

A new mishnah: A woman waiting for yibum - can the yavam revoke this woman's vows? Which leads to the question of where the man gets the authority to revoke the vows. And the return of "ma'amar." Plus, the obligation of the yavam to the yevamah.

More on whether a father or husband can revoke a woman's hear he didn't hear. What if the man is deaf? With recourse to the example of an unmixed grain sacrifice (minchah) as a parallel. Also, a new mishnah on the women who wait the appropriate time period after betrothal - can that husband-to-be revoke her vows or not yet? Plus, the d'Orayta or deRabbanan divide.

When a husband divorces his wife after she's taken a vow, does the divorce function as upholding or ratifying the vow, or is it just silence? With the practical difference being if she divorced and remarried immediately, with implications for the second husband's ability to revoke that vow. Plus, a new mishnah - on the practice of a father revoking any and all vows that his daughter made under his...

A woman who takes a vow while betrothed, divorces that same day, gets betrothed to another that same day - the father can revoke her vow and the second (or last in this kind of chain) can revoke it. That is, she is always under her father's auspices, as a young woman, or under her husband's, but she hasn't aged into her own authority. Plus, the verses that explain the bottom lines of these cases....

More on the husband/father revoking vows - with a parallel to the vow of becoming a nazir. Declaring oneself a Nazir bring a vow, of course. The point comes, though, when the man cannot revoke it - once he's confirmed it, it's upheld - or so it seems at first blush. Also, a new mishnah, which introduces new parameters for the difference between the father and the husband - specifically (again), if...