Nedarim 64A

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Text Excerpt

רבי אליעזר אומר: פותחין לאדם בכבוד אביו ואמו, וחכמים אוסרין.

Mishnah: R' Eliezer says: When halakhic authorities are approached with regard to the dissolution of a vow, they may broach dissolution with a person who took a vow by raising the issue of how taking the vow ultimately degraded the honor of his father and mother, asking him the following: Had you known that your parents would experience public shame due to your lax attitude toward your vow, would you still have taken the vow? But the Rabbis disagree with R' Eliezer and prohibit broaching dissolution of a vow with this particular question.

אמר רבי צדוק: עד שפותחין לו בכבוד אביו ואמו, יפתחו לו בכבוד המקום, אם כן ⁠— אין נדרים! מודים חכמים לרבי אליעזר בדבר שבינו לבין אביו ואמו, שפותחין לו בכבוד אביו ואמו.

To support the opinion of the Rabbis, R' Tzadok said: Instead of broaching dissolution with him by raising the issue of the honor of his father and mother, let them broach dissolution with him by raising the issue of the honor of God. They should point out that a vow taken in the name of God lessens the honor of God, so they could ask him: If you had known that your vow would diminish the honor of God, would you have taken your vow? And if so, if this is a valid method of broaching dissolution, there are no vows. Nevertheless, the Rabbis concede to R' Eliezer with regard to a vow concerning a matter that is between him and his father and mother, that they may broach dissolution with him by raising the issue of the honor of his father and mother, as in this case the extenuation is connected to this particular vow.

Text data via Sefaria: William Davidson Edition - English and William Davidson Edition - Vocalized Aramaic, CC-BY-NC; edition provenance: Koren. Display terminology has been modernized for readability.