Today’s daf (Nedarim 75b) informs us that we cannot revoke our own vows (שֶׁאֵין מֵיפֵר נִדְרֵי עַצְמוֹ). In fact, we are taught in Nedarim 81b that the words לֹא יַחֵל דְּבָרוֹ – ‘he shall not profane his word’ (Bemidbar 30:3) teach us that even a learned Torah Sage cannot dissolve his own vows (מִכָּאן לְחָכָם…
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The final words of today’s daf (Nedarim 74b) touch on a topic that I’ve often emphasized, and that – as it so happens – is a topic that I stumbled upon in an essay that I read over Shabbat.To begin with the daf, having heard Rabbi Akiva present a thoughtful examination of the laws of…
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There is a fascinating rule stated in today’s daf (Nedarim 73b) which I believe provides a powerful lesson for all men who are about to be married or who are already married.Our Mishna (Nedarim 10:5) informs us that it was traditional for a previously unmarried woman to have a twelve-month delay between אירוסין (halachic engagement…
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Most of us have seen books, articles and videos where well-known authors, athletes, musicians, home-organisers, and models offer insights into their writing, training, practicing, organising and beauty rituals. And why might someone choose to read such books and articles or watch such videos? Because we view these people as experts, and we consider their advice…
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The Mishna (Nedarim 10:3) in today’s daf (Nedarim 71a) describes a scenario where a young woman, who we shall call Zahava, made a vow while halachically engaged to a man whom we shall call Yitzie (and where, it should be noted, the substance of Zahava’s vow made Yitzie and her father sufficiently uneasy that they…
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