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Nedarim 78a

נדרים ע״ח ע״א

Learn Nedarim 78a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The separate powers of חכם and בעל over vows, the גזירה שוה of 'זה הדבר' between נדרים and שחוטי חוץ, and how בית שמאי, who reject it, learn their laws

Overview

The גמרא finishes a ברייתא that reads 'זה הדבר' to teach that only a חכם does התרה. A second ברייתא teaches that only a בעל does הפרה, even though a קל וחומר might have given that power to the חכם too. A third ברייתא links פרשת נדרים and שחוטי חוץ through a גזירה שוה on 'זה הדבר'. From this link, רב אחא בר יעקב learns that three הדיוטות can release a vow, and רב חסדא (or רבי יוחנן) learns that one יחיד מומחה can also do it. רב ששת learns from the other direction of the link that שאלה works on הקדש. Since בית שמאי hold there is no שאלה on הקדש, the גמרא says they do not accept this גזירה שוה at all. For them, each 'זה הדבר' teaches its own local law. They learn the law of three הדיוטות from the answer רב ששת gave רב אסי בר נתן about a ברייתא saying שבת and vows were not said 'with' the festivals. רב ששת starts to explain that ברייתא, and the explanation continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

״זֶה הַדָּבָר״ —

"This is the thing"

חָכָם מַתִּיר, וְאֵין בַּעַל מַתִּיר.

a sage dissolves, but a husband does not dissolve.

תַּנְיָא אִידַּךְ: ״זֶה הַדָּבָר״ —

Another ברייתא teaches: "This is the thing"

בַּעַל מֵפֵר וְאֵין חָכָם מֵפֵר.

a husband cancels, but a sage does not cancel.

The steps (26)

  1. StatementOnly a sage can dissolve a vow
  2. StatementA second teaching: only a husband can cancel a vow
  3. ChallengeWhy a verse is needed: a tempting logical argument
  4. ResolutionThe verse blocks the logical argument
  5. StatementLinking vows and slaughtering outside the Temple
  6. StatementThe link works in the other direction too
  7. QuestionWhat practical law does the vows side teach?
  8. ResponseThree ordinary people can release a vow
  9. ChallengeBut the verse says 'heads of the tribes'!
  10. Resolution'Heads of the tribes' teaches about a single expert
  11. QuestionWhat does the other side of the link teach?
  12. ResponseConsecrating can be undone through a sage
  13. ChallengeWhat does the link teach according to בית שמאי?
  14. Resolutionבית שמאי do not accept this גזירה שוה
  15. QuestionWhy is 'זה הדבר' written in the section on vows?
  16. ResponseA sage releases and a husband cancels
  17. QuestionWhy is 'זה הדבר' written about שחוטי חוץ?
  18. ResponseLiable for slaughtering, not for pinching
  19. ChallengeWhere do בית שמאי learn that three הדיוטות can release?
  20. ResolutionThey learn it from רב אסי בר נתן
  21. ProofThe verse about משה declaring the festivals
  22. ProofThe ברייתא: שבת and vows were not said with the festivals
  23. Statementרב אסי בר נתן travels to ask רב ששת
  24. ChallengeBut שבת is written with the festivals
  25. ChallengeBut the vows section is right next to the festivals
  26. Resolutionרב ששת begins his explanation