Hilchot Nedarim

From Halachipedia

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.[1]
  • If one delays fulfilling a Neder, his account is "opened" in Heaven.[2]
  • 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.[3]

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.[4]
  • 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").[5]
  • 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.[6]
  • 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.[7]
  • 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.[8]

Sources

  1. Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 203:1
  2. Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 203:2
  3. Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 203:3
  4. Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 203:4
  5. Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 203:6
  6. Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 203:6
  7. Nedarim 8a, Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 213:2, Shach ibid 203:6. Rav Yosef Dov HaLevi Soloveitchik once went three hours overtime in his regular lecture, which was usually two hours long, on a Thursday in Yeshiva University, to the astonishment of his students. Those who remained by the time he stopped were further astounded to discover he did so becuase the previous week he had told the class that "Next week we will finish the chapter." and explained how that alone was enough to be considered a binding Neder. Since they didn't even finish, they had to seek out students who weren't in their class to form a Beit Din for Hatarat Nedarim. (Nefesh HaRav pg. 236)
  8. Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 203:7