Hilchot Nedarim

Precautions and Circumstances to Taking Nedarim

General Warnings

• One should not regularly take a Neder: even if he fulfills it, he is called a Rasha and sinner.
• If one delays fulfilling a Neder, his account is "opened" in Heaven.
• Taking a Neder is equivalent to building a Bamah at a time in which doing so is prohibited, and following through with it is equivalent to bringing a Korban on that Bamah. Instead, it's better he have it anulled. This is only true, however, with respect to regular Nedarim. It's actually a Mitzvah to fulfill Nidrei Hekdesh, and one should only attempt to anull them in very drastic situation.

Tzedaka

• It's preferble to not even pledge Tzedaka in the form of a Neder. Rather, if he has the money, he should donate it right away. If he doesn't, it's better not to take the Neder until he does.
• If one does have to pledge with the community, he should add "Bli Neder."

General Leniencies

• One may take a Neder in a challenging, trying time ("Et Tzarah").
• Nedarim and Shevuot may be taken as means of strengthening one's religious commitment, both in terms of fulfilling positive Mitzvot and evading the violation of negative ones.
• However, one must be extremely careful when taking a Neder or Shevua in the context of Mitzvot, because even the more innocuous formulation will actually be binding.
• Nedarim Siyag LePrishut: Taking a Neder to adjust one's personal attributes and tendencies is a form of serving Hashem. Examples include controlling one's extravagant apetite for meat and wine by taking a Neder against eating them for a period of time. Similarly, forbidding oneself from general indulgences is a means of bringing oneself to lesser focus on materialism. Nevertheless, one shouldn't become accustomed to taking Nidrei Issur (Prohibitive Nedarim). Instead, one should abstain from actions and entities that one should abstain from without taking a Neder in the first place.