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Nedarim 71b

נדרים ע״א ע״ב

Learn Nedarim 71b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

How annulling a נערה מאורסה's vows works after the ארוס dies (בית שמאי vs. בית הלל), and whether divorcing her counts as silence or as ratifying her vow

Overview

The גמרא first explains the real disagreement between בית שמאי and בית הלל about a נערה המאורסה whose ארוס died. בית שמאי say all the authority passes to the father, even over vows the ארוס already knew about. They also hold that whoever annuls cuts his share of the vow off completely (מיגז גייז). בית הלל say the father annuls together with her final ארוס, because annulling only weakens the vow and does not remove a share. Then a new question is asked: if a husband hears his wife's vow and then divorces her, is the divorce like silence or like confirming the vow (הקמה)? The גמרא explains why this matters with a case where he remarries her on the same day. If divorce is like silence, he can still annul that day. If it is like הקמה, he cannot.

Opening lines

בֵּית שַׁמַּאי סָבְרִי:

Beit Shammai hold:

נְדָרִים נָמֵי שֶׁרָאוּי לָאָרוּס,

even vows that were seen by the betrothed,

נִתְרוֹקְנָה רְשׁוּת לָאָב,

the authority reverts to the father,

וּמִיגָּז גָּיֵיז.

and he severs it completely.

The steps (5)

  1. Responseבית שמאי's view: the father takes over fully and annulment cuts away a share
  2. Responseבית הלל's view: father and final ארוס annul together, and annulment only weakens
  3. QuestionDoes divorce count as silence or as confirming the vow?
  4. QuestionWhat practical difference does it make?
  5. ResponseThe case: he divorces her and remarries her on the same day