Talking Talmud

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...

The right to revoke a woman's vow, as it transfers between husband and father (or not), in the event of the other's death. Also, the question of whether one can pose a question to a sage to revoke her vow - comparable to nullifying vows as we've seen in the past. Plus, the question of exchange/temurah.

When a man revokes his betrothed's vow, is he removing the vow or weakening it? How does the father's revoking impact the vow? Plus, the timing of the betrothed's revoking or upholding the vow. Plus, how that timing works with the father's involvement, including if the father dies.

Another quick December 31 request for support for Talking Talmud. || Introducing the halakhit pertaining to a husband and father being able to revoke a girl or woman's vows. Revoking being a different treatment of the vow than a sage's annulling a vow. And with recognition that this treatment of a woman's vows may be troubling. The daf introduces the most complicated case of a betrothed young woma...

Note: Plug for 2022 year-end contributions to Talking Talmud (details and link to contribute on FB or WhatsApp). Two mishnayot: First, an opening to release a person from his vow against eating meat, for example, if he can be asked: had you realized that would include Shabbat and holidays, would you have made this vow? Note that a vow that is partly nullified is wholly nullified. Likewise, excepti...

Dissolving a vow that pertains to another person can only be done in the presence of that other person. With a proof from Moses and Jethro - and Midian and Egypt. Plus, a story about Nebuchadnezzar and his shame before Tzidkiyahu. Also, 3 mishnayot: openings to annul a vow, beginning with new developments. For example, a vow to keep out if certain property because of a dog or a snake, with the sub...

Chapter 9. With a new mishnah, introducing the process of removing, annulling, dissolving a vow. The question arises as to how one demonstrates regret, or what makes a person regret a vow. For example, feeling bad before one's parents, before God. Plus, other future developments that lead to regretting the past vow - so many vows would never be made if the future were known as to the impact. Note...

What happens when one swears off wine for the year and then the year turns out to have an extra month? What happens if the person swearing off the wine specified Adar in his vow - but didn't specify Adar I or Adar II, then what are the implications for the length of the vow? Also, what happens when the vow specifies Pesach? Given the presumption of wine on the first night if Pesach. Plus, Ezra's d...

Several stories about Rabbi Tarfon, including his reputation, and how he made use of it. [Who's Who: R. Tarfon] Also, harvesting as a time that defines or limits a vow - with mention of several different harvests. Likewise, referring to the rainfall as a way to define time (we didn't know it would happen when we recorded, but this day in Israel is a representative very rainy day).

The Gemara continues its discussion around nedarim of time and how do we define a section of time. Why is the fig harvest considered the end of summer?

Chapter 8. When one vows to make wine off-limits, but with a time factor - today, this week, this month, and so on - it's off-limits until the end of that same day, week, month, and so on. But "a day," "a week," "a month" means for the specific length of time. Also, applying these details of time to other situations of vows - "today" vs. "one day," for example. Plus, avoiding the language of nedar...

Concluding the discussion of whether something prohibited can lost that status. Recall the ability to annul a vow! Plus, the implications of a terumah-hullin mixture, and the possibility of reversing its status. Also, what happens when that which is planted has already been tithed? When it grows again, do you have to tithe again? When do you cross the line into taking too much?

More on the onion and the way it grows - does the prohibited part forbid the permitted part, or vice versa? Note the Talmudic, halakhic concept: Davar she-yesh lol matirin - a way to permit something that was forbidden. How that concept is applied elsewhere, especially with regard to mixtures, and here. Also, weeding with a Kuti/Samaritan, who is not considered reliable for taking terumot and maas...

A long mishnah: One who declares certain foods to be off-limits will have different restrictions, depending on the phrasing. Plus, how far into the future does one's vow extend? Also, when a husband swears off his wife's productivity. Or does so for a set amount of time (the same "until Pesach" deadlines that we've seen in the past). Note that the Gemara doesn't address the whole if the mishnah; r...

3 mishnayot: When one swears off a house - going into the attic of a house may or not be included in that vow, as prohibited (a dispute between R. Meir and the sages). Also, one who swears off a bed, which may or may not include a "dargash." Plus, defining "dargash." Also, swearing off entrance to a city - which includes its environs, apparently, while the inside/outside of a house are more specif...

More on the terms we use. One who swears off "dagan" may include a particular bean, and not just the 5 grains, because of the way that bean is stored. Plus, the story of Mar bar Shmuel and the stipulation in his will. Also, character development for Rava from R. Yosef. Also, swearing off clothing, and the implications for non-garments, and for things made of the same kind of thing as garments, but...

Chapter VII: Swearing off "vegetables" - does that include gourds? What about legumes? What drives whether the term "vegetables" is more or less inclusive? Also, the implications for punishment if this vow is violated technically are significant. Namely, the question of whether one would get lashes. Also, implications for me'ilah. What happens with different (correct) names for meat - when that me...