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Nedarim 77a

נדרים ע״ז ע״א

Learn Nedarim 77a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Nedarim 77a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Cancelling and releasing vows on שבת and at night

Overview

The גמרא quotes a משנה in מסכת שבת. It says a husband or father may cancel vows (הפרה) on שבת, and one may ask a חכם to release vows that are needed for שבת. First it asks whether הפרה on שבת is allowed only for שבת needs. The answer depends on a dispute between תנאים about how long the window for cancelling lasts. If the window is 'all day', any vow may be cancelled on שבת. If it is 'twenty-four hours' (מעת לעת), only vows needed for שבת are cancelled on שבת. Next, a story shows that vows needed for שבת may be released on שבת even if there was time to ask before שבת. אביי rejects רב יוסף's idea that three laymen may not release vows on שבת, because releasing vows does not look like a court case. Then a ruling of רב is reworded to teach that a חכם may release vows at night. רבי אבא questions whether רב really held this, so the גמרא begins a story about רב releasing a vow for רבה, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

תְּנַן הָתָם:

We learned there:

מְפִירִין נְדָרִים בְּשַׁבָּת,

One may cancel vows on Shabbat,

וְנִשְׁאָלִין לִנְדָרִים

and one may ask a sage to release vows

שֶׁהֵן לְצוֹרֶךְ הַשַּׁבָּת.

that are for the needs of Shabbat.

The steps (18)

  1. StatementThe משנה: vows may be cancelled on שבת
  2. QuestionDoes the 'שבת needs' limit apply to cancelling too?
  3. Responseרב זוטי's ברייתא: only for שבת needs
  4. Challengeרב אשי: our משנה says 'until nightfall' with no limits
  5. ResolutionIt is a dispute between תנאים about the deadline
  6. ConclusionHow each view decides the שבת question
  7. StatementA quoted rule: asking for release of vows on שבת for שבת-needs
  8. QuestionOnly if there was no time before שבת, or even if there was?
  9. ResponseThe story of רב זוטרא's son shows: even if there was time
  10. Statementרב יוסף: only a single expert, not three laymen, on שבת
  11. Rejectionאביי: releasing vows does not look like a court at all
  12. Statementרב: the הלכה is that vows may be cancelled at night
  13. ChallengeBut our משנה already says this
  14. ResolutionCorrect the ruling: a חכם may release vows at night
  15. Questionרבי אבא checks whether רב really said it
  16. Responseרב הונא: רב stayed silent
  17. QuestionDid you say 'silent' or 'drinking'?
  18. ProofA story about רב releasing רבה's vow