Gemara Clarity

Nedarim 22a

נדרים כ״ב ע״א

Learn Nedarim 22a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Openings (פתח) for releasing vows that we do not use, and the dangers of anger

Overview

This עמוד continues the גמרא's discussion of a פתח, an opening that shows a person he would never have vowed had he known something, so a חכם can release the vow. It finishes the story of a mother whose vow made her daughter look bad. Then it tells how רבי ינאי סבא released his grandson's vow by reminding him that a vow makes Heaven examine a person's deeds. The גמרא rules that we do not use that opening, nor several others: רבן גמליאל's פסוק comparing a vower to one who deserves the sword, רבי נתן's teaching that a vow is like building a בָּמָה, and שמואל's statement that a vower is called a רשע. רבי אבהו and רב יוסף bring a פסוק and a משנה to support שמואל. The word רוגז in that פסוק leads to a teaching about how anger brings גיהנם and painful illness. Finally, the גמרא tells a story of a murder on עולא's trip to ארץ ישראל, and רבי יוחנן wonders how such rage could happen there; עולא's answer continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

אִילּוּ לָא חֲמָאת בָּהּ אִימַּהּ

If her mother had not seen in her

מִילִּין דַּעֲזִיבָה

improper matters that should be stopped,

בִּכְדִי לָא אַדַּרְתַּהּ!

she would not have made a vow about her for nothing!

מִי אַדַּרְתַּהּ?

Would you have made the vow about her?

The steps (20)

  1. ConclusionThe mother's vow is released
  2. Statementרבי ינאי releases his grandson's vow
  3. ProofThe verse behind רבי ינאי's opening
  4. StatementWe do not use רבי ינאי's opening
  5. StatementAnother opening we also do not use: רבן גמליאל's verse
  6. StatementHow רבן גמליאל read the verse
  7. StatementAnother opening we do not use: רבי נתן's comparison of a vow to a private altar
  8. StatementFirst version: the first part may be used, and the second part is debated
  9. StatementTwo versions of the debate: רב כהנא and רב טביומי
  10. ConclusionThe הלכה: neither part of רבי נתן's ברייתא is used
  11. StatementAnother opening we do not use: שמואל says a vower is called a רשע
  12. Proofרבי אבהו's source for שמואל: the shared word for refraining
  13. Proofרב יוסף's support from the משנה: 'like the vows of the wicked'
  14. StatementAn angry person is ruled by every kind of גיהנם
  15. StatementAnger also brings a painful illness
  16. StatementA murder on עולא's journey
  17. Questionעולא worries he encouraged a sinner
  18. ResponseYou saved your life
  19. ChallengeHow could such anger happen in ארץ ישראל?
  20. Resolutionעולא begins his answer