Nedarim 11a

נדרים י״א ע״א

Learn Nedarim 11a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Whose opinion is the משנה about the vow word לחולין? The גמרא tests whether it fits רבי מאיר or רבי יהודה.

Overview

The גמרא first assumes that the vow word לחולין means 'not חולין, but a קרבן.' That reading needs the rule that from a negative statement you can hear a positive one (מכלל לאו אתה שומע הן). The גמרא shows it cannot be רבי מאיר, because his rule about the double condition of בני גד ובני ראובן shows he rejects that idea. So the משנה must be רבי יהודה. But the end of the משנה names רבי יהודה, which suggests the beginning belongs to someone else. The גמרא answers that the whole משנה is רבי יהודה, and the last clause explains the earlier part instead of arguing with it. Then a ברייתא quotes רבי יהודה saying that 'like ירושלים' is not a vow at all, while our משנה counts it as one. The final answer is that two תנאים reported רבי יהודה's view differently, so the whole משנה can still be his.

Opening lines

The steps (8)

1. StatementThe starting assumption: לחולין means 'not חולין, but an offering'
2. QuestionWhose opinion is the משנה? Not רבי מאיר
3. ProofProof: רבי מאיר requires a double condition like בני גד ובני ראובן
4. ResponseSo the משנה must be רבי יהודה
5. ChallengeChallenge: the end of the משנה names רבי יהודה, so the beginning seems to be someone else
6. ResolutionAnswer: the whole משנה is רבי יהודה, and the last clause explains the first
7. ChallengeA teaching shows רבי יהודה does not forbid an item called "like ירושלים"
8. ResolutionTwo teachers report רבי יהודה's view differently