Nedarim 74a

נדרים ע״ד ע״א

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Topic

Can a יבם nullify the נדרים of a שומרת יבם (a widow waiting for him to do יבום)?

Overview

This amud deals with a widow whose husband died without children. She is now a שומרת יבם, waiting for his brother to do יבום or חליצה. The משנה asks whether that brother, the יבם, can cancel her vows the way a husband can. רבי אליעזר says yes, and argues it with a קל וחומר. רבי יהושע says yes only when there is one יבם. רבי עקיבא says never, because a יבמה is not fully bound to the יבם the way an ארוסה is bound to her husband. The גמרא explains רבי עקיבא and רבי יהושע through the question of זיקה. It then asks how רבי אליעזר can allow cancellation when there are several brothers and no ברירה. רבי אמי answers that one brother already did מאמר, and רבי אליעזר holds like בית שמאי that מאמר is a full קנין. The גמרא challenges this from רבי אלעזר, who holds that for בית שמאי מאמר only pushes away the צרה. It answers that the יבם was also ordered by בית דין to support her, and a woman vows with her husband's consent in mind.

Opening lines

The steps (10)

1. StatementThree opinions on a יבם cancelling the vows of a שומרת יבם
2. Proofרבי אליעזר's קל וחומר
3. Rejectionרבי עקיבא: others also have a share in a יבמה
4. Challengeרבי יהושע: what about only one יבם?
5. Resolutionרבי עקיבא: a יבמה is not a complete wife
6. QuestionExplaining the opinions, and asking for רבי אליעזר's reason
7. ResponseThe case is where one brother already did מאמר
8. ResponseHow רבי יהושע and רבי עקיבא fit into רבי אמי's explanation
9. ChallengeChallenge from רבי אלעזר's view of בית שמאי
10. ResolutionThe case is where the court obligated the יבם to support her