Nedarim 63a

נדרים ס״ג ע״א

Learn Nedarim 63a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Vows tied to the rains and to the month of אדר: does the wording 'until the rain' or 'until the rains' change when the vow ends, and which אדר does plain 'Adar' mean in a leap year?

Overview

Just before this, רבי זירא explained that a vow 'until the rain' depends on the date when the second rainfall is supposed to come. The גמרא challenges him from a ברייתא in which רבי מאיר, רבי יהודה and רבי יוסי argue about the dates of the three רביעות. Through an earlier discussion, the גמרא shows that the second רביעה matters for a נודר. It also shows that רבן שמעון בן גמליאל, who counts seven days of real rain as the first and second רביעה, follows רבי יוסי. This seems to prove that the vow depends on actual rain. The גמרא answers that this ברייתא is about someone who said 'until the rains' (plural), so רבי זירא's rule stands. Then a new משנה teaches that a vow 'for a year' includes the extra month of a leap year, and that plain 'Adar' means the first אדר. The גמרא asks whether this follows only רבי יהודה, who says plain 'Adar' in a שטר means the first אדר. אביי answers that it can follow רבי מאיר too: רבי מאיר speaks of someone who knew it was a leap year, and our משנה is about someone who did not know.

Opening lines

The steps (11)

1. ChallengeThe objection begins: dates of the three rainfalls according to רבי מאיר and רבי יהודה
2. Statementרבי יוסי's dates and his rule about when individuals fast
3. QuestionWhy does the date of the second rainfall matter?
4. Responseרבי זירא: the second rainfall matters for someone who made a vow
5. QuestionWhose view is רבן שמעון בן גמליאל's rule about seven days of rain?
6. ResponseIt follows רבי יוסי, so actual rain counts, which challenges רבי זירא
7. ResolutionThat ברייתא is about someone who said 'until the rains'
8. StatementNew משנה: vows for a year, and vows until אדר in a leap year
9. StatementInference: plain 'Adar' means the first אדר
10. QuestionDoes the משנה follow only רבי יהודה?
11. Resolutionאביי: The משנה Can Follow רבי מאיר Too