Talking Talmud

A new mishnah! Taking a vow to protect yourself from thugs who you feel are putting you in danger, and you take a vow to protect yourself. With a machloket between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai, how far that goes. Plus, the law of the land is the law (assuming that doesn't mean laws made against Judaism). Also, another mishnah! The need to redeem saplings (for example) that have been consecrated -...

[Announcement on Donation Opportunities] Vows that are not fulfilled because of circumstances beyond one's control. With the example of a court case, a man who filed documents in his favor, and he assures the court he'll return with a vow that the documents will be null and void if he doesn't come back in time. That's how certain he is that he'll come back. Which leads to an important dispute betw...

More on accidental vows. When part of the vow remains in force, but not all of it - depending on how much regret the person making the vow explains. Plus, a machloket about vows based on a machloket about designated sacrifices. Also, swearing people off something in a way that includes people because they are similar to others, in which case, the question becomes what happens to all of the people...

Do people use their own language when formulating a vow? Or are they more likely to rely on a formula? What kind of pitfalls are there (or potentially so) in one's own language? Also, a new mishnah, on unwitting vows. That is, when one makes a statement that is based on a mistaken premise. Plus, R. Akiva's innovative statement about vows - that nullifying a vow in part nullified it in full.

Do the rabbis agree with R. Elazar Ben Yaakov from the mishnah or not? What if a person can't fulfill a vow because of circumstances beyond his control? What about a host and a guest, where the meal doesn't happen... Are such vows actually vows? [Who's Who: R. Elazar ben Yaakov] Also, a new mishnah, on vows of exaggeration, and the problem with them.

How dissolving vows seems to have been a common occurrence. Also, the Manny expressions of regret. Also, both Abaye and his wife want the daughter of Abaye's wife to marry someone from their respective sides of the family. And even Abaye makes an extreme vow that needed to be dissolved. Also, a new mishnah: invitations and disclaimers. Plus, cancelling future vows in advance. Including Rosh Hashan...

Another case of dissolving a vow... because your deeds are known in heaven. Also, comparing making a vow to building an altar. Plus, an investigation into anger, and the harm that being angry does to oneself. And this sense of anger permeating the events of the writing of all the books after the 5 books of the Torah and the Book of Joshua. Plus, on how one gets our of a vow - R. Nachman and the an...

Chapter 3! The opening mishnah addresses nedarim that are not real vows, but look and feel like a neder, and therefore should not be said. Exaggerations or circumstances beyond one's control, among others. Plus R. Tarfon on unclear, conditional formulations. Also, how and why those who utter these not-vow vows need to see a Torah scholar in order to get out of them. Plus, the stories of those who...

A new mishnah! With various vows and caveats thereof. Including the famous injunction not to prolong conversation with a woman (!). Also, a list of proper behavior on the part of parents to ensure that their progeny are not damaged, with a moment to reflect about non-scientific cause and effect. Plus, Ima Shalom's stance against the Gemara's puritanism. [Who's Who: Ima Shalom] Also, a rebuke to se...

Consecrating property, even when it has questionable status, as compared to vows, when there is doubt as to the status - both result in stringency. But that seems to be a matter of disagreement. Plus, how this pertains to nezirut. Also, finally introducing the nezirut of Shimshon (Samson), including God's designation of Shimshon as such.

Challenges to R. Huna, and answers to the challenges. More on the stringencies of a neder vs. an oath. Plus, the sin of swearing falsely, and how it doesn't really have a way to repent, in comparison to not fulfilling a vow. Also, unspecified nedarim are treated stringently. Plus, the clear indication of idolatry in a vow immediately negates the vow, because of the Torah's prohibition against idol...

A vow within a vow! (But not an oath within an oath). Also, how that kind of vow applies to a nazir (and the debate about it). Plus, being a nazir and also swearing off grapes (which a nazir cannot have anyway!). Also, how to count off 2 periods of 30 days of nezirut.

A new mishnah - paralleling vows (nedarim) and oaths (shevuot). They take effect on different things. Plus, wording swearing off things with a standard formulation as well as its inverse, converse, etc. And another mishnah, determining when neder is more stringent, and when shevuah is.

A series of refutations to R. Yehudah's position against conditional nedarim. Which leads us to the difference between a neder and a shevuah. Plus, the drama between a husband and wife, when he swears off her benefitting from him, with deadlines of Pesach and Sukkot, and the question of whether she goes back to her father's house.

A new chapter! Including vows vs. oaths. And a new mishnah: when the vow doesn't work - for example, swearing off edibles that are already prohibited by the Torah. So why are these statements treated as vows? But this way lies confusion. What happens when is a vow valid, but also knocked down? And what happens when one uses a Torah scroll as part of the vow, or as a prop for bow? How precise of a...

More on precise phrasing of neder - making an oath by association, given the terms invoked. Plus, a new mishnah that expounds on comparable examples. Also, is a neder worded to obligate a person or with regard to that person's limbs that do the activity.

What is the Torah source for a vow of prohibition (swearing off something, with the formula of a vow). Specifically as a sign of mourning. With the example of Gedaliyah ben Achikam (namesake for Tzom Gedaliyah). Also, what if one takes a neder on something that would have been permitted vs. that which was forbidden anyway? Plus, the assortment of terumah breads and the korban todah.

Another new mishnah - one who designates the food being eaten as non-kosher food, or consecrated, or disqualified from being eaten in some way, depending on exactly what the status is supposed to be, the food becomes off-limits. Note the significance of the oral pronunciation with regard to language play. Also, what if the language used is associative, rather than specific?

Is taking the vow of Nezirut considered to be an admirable action or is the Nazir a sinner? The Gemara discusses the precision of language when it involves nedarim.

A new mishnah! Formulating vows in the style of other vows - like the wicked, like the righteous, like a nazir, like for a korban. Also, defining and distinguishing between Neder and Nedavah. And how does nezirut compare? Plus, the story of Shimon HaTzadik. [Who's Who: Shimon HaTzadik]

Can one take an oath that one will fulfill mitzvot, which are presumably already incumbent on the person who would be taking the oath? What if the oath is to learn Torah, or a specific section of Talmud, for example? Also, more on excommunication, but this time, when the actions take place in a dream - does that excommunication count? And how can it be annulled?)

When an utterance of a statement take effect to have impact on the halakhic status of a thing, and how precise that kind of statement needs to be. Plus, R. Akiva on lashes (or not) to one who violates an oath, given the phrasing of the oath. Also, the language of "menudeh," detaching from something, which is fundamentally excommunication. Plus, how that phrasing includes God's name, and how excomm...

More on Abaye and Rava on ambiguous statements, when they're binding, and how potential consecration results in much more stringent care with regard to the effect of one's words. Also, can one marry via a partial statement? Or an ambiguous one? Shouldn't there be a hekesh link between the two? What about Pe'ah? Which moves us further into the precision of language.

First, Shmuel's understanding of the mishnah. Also, partial declarations, and when they count as binding and when they don't, especially with regard to the bill of divorce... and nezirut. And the dispute between Abaye and Rava on these statements, and how each can be read to line up with the defense of the opposite position too.

Renewing the question of how a nazir can violate the prohibition against delaying. Plus, the korban chatat (sin-offering) of a yoledet (a woman who has given birth) and the potential parallel to Nazir. Also, a man's nullification of his wife's or daughter's vow of nezirut. Plus, when one swears off another with specific details vs. more generally.