Gemara Clarity

Nazir 21a

נזיר כ״א ע״א

Learn Nazir 21a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Nazir 21a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Joining another's נזירות with 'וַאֲנִי': the time limit, and whether each joiner attaches to the one before him or to the first

Overview

The גמרא brings a ברייתא showing that 'וַאֲנִי' (And I) only joins a friend's נזירות vow if it is said within כדי דיבור, the time a student takes to greet his רב. It tries to prove from the משנה's two 'וַאֲנִי's that no more can join. That proof is pushed off: a תנא is not a peddler who lists endlessly, and two were needed only to create a middle person for the משנה's later clause. Then an איבעיא is raised: does each person attach to the one right before him, or does everyone attach to the first? The difference is whether the chain can go on forever. Proofs from the משנה's clauses about releasing the first or the last person are each pushed off. Finally, a ברייתא says openly that releasing the middle person releases everyone after him, so each person attaches to the one before him. The amud ends by starting the next case of the משנה: how can saying 'my mouth is like his mouth and my hair is like his hair' make someone a נזיר?

Opening lines

תַּנְיָא נָמֵי הָכִי:

It was also taught this way:

מִי שֶׁאָמַר ״הֲרֵינִי נָזִיר״,

One who said, 'I am hereby a nazirite,'

וְשָׁמַע חֲבֵירוֹ וְשָׁהָה כְּדֵי דִבּוּר,

and his friend heard and waited the time of speaking a phrase,

וְאָמַר ״וַאֲנִי״ —

and then said, 'And I'

The steps (19)

  1. ProofA ברייתא confirms the time limit for saying 'And I'
  2. ProofTrying to prove from the משנה that only two can join
  3. RejectionThe תנא is not a peddler listing endlessly
  4. ChallengeThen why not list just one 'And I'?
  5. ResolutionTwo are listed because the later clause needs a middle person
  6. QuestionDoes each person attach to the one before him or to the first?
  7. QuestionWhat practical difference does it make?
  8. ResponseThe difference: can the chain go on forever?
  9. ProofA proof from the משנה listing only two people who said 'And I'
  10. RejectionThe תנא does not list endlessly like a peddler
  11. ChallengeThen the משנה should have listed only one 'And I'
  12. ResolutionTwo 'And I's were needed to have a middle person
  13. ProofA proof from 'if the first was released, all are released'
  14. RejectionThe משנה chose the first person only to say 'all are released'
  15. ProofProof from the משנה's wording about the last person
  16. Rejection'Last' really means the middle one
  17. ProofA ברייתא says it openly: release the middle and everyone after is released
  18. ConclusionConclusion: each attaches to the one before him
  19. ChallengeHow do 'mouth' and 'hair' words make someone a נזיר?