Nedarim 78 - January 11, 18 Tevet - a podcast by Michelle Cohen Farber

A gezeira shava (comparison of two different sections where the same words are used) is made between the section of vows and the section dealing with one who slaughters an animal for a sacrifice outside of the Temple/Tabernacle from the words ‘ze hadavar’ that appear in both sections. From the comparison, it is derived that vows can be annulled with three regular people (not judges) and that if one slaughters an animal that was sanctified, one can annul the sanctification and thus avoid the karet punishment. Beit Shamai doesn’t hold by the rule about annulling sanctification so they conclude that he must not hold by the gezeira shava. If so, what do they learn from ‘ze hadavar’ in each of these sections? From where do they derive the law that three regular people can annul vows? It is derived from the verses of the holidays – as the holidays are differentiated from vows – holidays require judges to determine their sanctity (by declaring the new moon) while vows do not. Rabbi Chanina brings an exception to the rule that the husband must cancel his wife’s vows on the day he hears them. If he wants to rebuke her first for vowing, he can push off the nullification for up to ten days. Rava raises a difficulty with Rabbi Chanina’s statement from the Tosefta, but it is resolved.