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Nedarim 87a

נדרים פ״ז ע״א

Learn Nedarim 87a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Mistaken קריעה and הפרה, the rule of תוך כדי דבור, and upholding or cancelling part of a vow

Overview

The משנה taught that if a husband cancels a vow thinking it was his daughter's, but it was really his wife's, the cancellation does not work. The גמרא challenges this from קריעה, tearing clothing for the dead, where a ברייתא says a tear made for the wrong relative still counts. The first answer is that it depends on the report: after a vague report (סתם) the mistake counts, but after a specific wrong report (מפרש) it does not. A second ברייתא spells out exactly this split. רב אשי offers another answer based on timing: if the mistake is discovered within תוך כדי דבור, the act still counts. A ברייתא about a sick relative who fainted supports this timing rule. The גמרא then rules that תוך כדי דבור כדבור דמי, except for blasphemy, idol worship, קידושין, and גירושין. A new משנה teaches that in one combined vow, upholding part upholds all of it, but cancelling part cancels nothing. The גמרא says this follows רבי ישמעאל and begins quoting his ברייתא, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

וְהָא גַּבֵּי קְרָעִים

But isn't it so with regard to tears for the dead

דִּכְתִיב ״עַל״ ״עַל״,

that it is written 'for,' 'for,'

דִּכְתִיב: ״עַל שָׁאוּל וְעַל יְהוֹנָתָן בְּנוֹ״.

as it is written: 'for Saul and for Jonathan his son.'

וְתַנְיָא: אָמְרוּ לוֹ ״מֵת אָבִיו״ וְקָרַע,

And it was taught: they told him 'his father died,' and he tore,

The steps (9)

  1. ChallengeTearing for the dead also needs specificity, yet a mistake still counts
  2. ResolutionA vague report versus a specific report
  3. ProofA ברייתא that spells out the vague-versus-specific distinction
  4. Resolutionרב אשי: It depends on how quickly the mistake was found
  5. ProofSupport from the case of a sick relative who fainted
  6. ConclusionThe final rule and its four exceptions
  7. StatementThe new משנה: upholding or cancelling part of a vow
  8. QuestionWhose opinion is the משנה?
  9. ResponseIt is רבי ישמעאל, based on a ברייתא on the פסוק