Nedarim 64a
נדרים ס״ד ע״א
Learn Nedarim 64a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.
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Topic
Opening a release of a vow (פתח) through parents' honor and through a נולד, and אביי's explanation of רבי צדוק's 'אין נדרים'
Overview
This amud deals with what a חכם may use as an 'opening' (פתח) to release a vow. The משנה brings two disputes between רבי אליעזר and the חכמים. In the first, רבי אליעזר lets the חכם open with the honor of the person's parents, and the חכמים forbid it. רבי צדוק backs the חכמים: if that worked, we could open every vow with the honor of God, and then 'there are no vows.' The חכמים admit that when the vow itself involves the parents, we may open with their honor. In the second dispute, רבי אליעזר allows opening with a נולד, a new development after the vow, such as a man becoming a סופר, a son's wedding, or a house turning into a בית הכנסת, and the חכמים forbid it. The גמרא then asks what רבי צדוק meant by 'there are no vows.' אביי explains that vows would not be released properly, because people would claim regret out of embarrassment rather than real regret.
Opening lines
רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר:
Rabbi Eliezer says:
פּוֹתְחִין לְאָדָם בִּכְבוֹד אָבִיו וְאִמּוֹ,
We may open [the vow] for a person through the honor of his father and mother,
וַחֲכָמִים אוֹסְרִין.
But the Sages forbid [this].
אָמַר רַבִּי צָדוֹק:
Rabbi Tzadok said:
The steps (10)
- StatementOpening a vow through the honor of parents
- Challengeרבי צדוק argues it would undermine all vows
- StatementThe Sages agree when the vow involves the parents
- StatementOpening a vow through a new development
- QuestionHow does a new development work?
- ResponseExample: the man became a scribe or made a wedding
- ResponseExample: the house became a synagogue
- ConclusionRestating the dispute over new developments
- QuestionWhat does "there are no vows" mean?
- Responseאביי: vows would not be released properly