Halachaהלכה

Nedarim and Sukkah: Intent and Mitzvah Benefit

Sources examining whether a vow (neder) can prohibit the performance of sukkah or other mitzvot, and how the intent behind the vow affects its validity when the underlying act involves both a mitzvah obligation and personal benefit.

קֻוֽנָּם סוּכָּה שֶׁאֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה

3 sources · 2 verified

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Source 1 · Chazal
Verified

Nedarim 16a

נדרים ט״ז א — ד"ה מַתְנִי׳ זֶה חוֹמֶר בַּשְּׁבוּעוֹת מִבַּנְּדָרִים

Nedarim 16a:11

When someone declares that performing a sukkah, taking a lulav, or donning phylacteries is konam (forbidden to him), a neder makes the items prohibited and the mitzvot cannot be performed until the vow is dissolved, whereas a shebuah permits them since one cannot swear to violate the mitzvot.

מַתְנִי׳ זֶה חוֹמֶר בַּשְּׁבוּעוֹת מִבַּנְּדָרִים, וְחוֹמֶר בַּנְּדָרִים מִבַּשְּׁבוּעוֹת. כֵּיצַד? אָמַר: ״קֻוֽנָּם סוּכָּה שֶׁאֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה״, ״לוּלָב שֶׁאֲנִי נוֹטֵל״, ״תְּפִילִּין שֶׁאֲנִי מַנִּיחַ״ — בַּנְּדָרִים אָסוּר, בַּשְּׁבוּעוֹת מוּתָּר, שֶׁאֵין נִשְׁבָּעִין לַעֲבוֹר עַל הַמִּצְוֹת.

MISHNA: This rule, that oaths can render actions, which do not have actual substance, either prohibited or obligatory, is a stringency of oaths vis-à-vis vows, which do not take effect with regard to matters that do not have actual substance. And there is also a stringency of vows vis-à-vis oaths. How so? With regard to one who said: Making a sukka is konam for me, or: Taking a lulav is konam for me, or: Donning phylacteries is konam for me, in the case of vows, the items are rendered forbidden, and he may not perform the mitzva until the vow is dissolved. However, in the case of similar oaths, these items are permitted, as one cannot take an oath to transgress the mitzvot.

Source 2 · Acharonim
Verified

Noda BiYehudah I, Yoreh Deah 67

נודע ביהודה מהדורא קמא, יורה דעה ס״ז

Noda BiYehudah I, Yoreh Deah 67

Discusses the halakhic status of a vow/neder in relation to a sukkah-related case, including whether intent can render an act forbidden when the underlying act is a mitzvah or a source of benefit. The responsum is relevant to whether a neder can be applied in a way that blocks fulfillment of the sukkah obligation or changes the meaning of hana'ah.

החוב. ויש לי להביא ראיה מזה שהרשב"א ס"ל דבעינן תנאי בד"א ומעשה בד"א. ועיין באה"ע סימן ל"ח סעיף ד' בהגה"ה ועכ"פ כבר הוכחנו שהשבועה לחוד אינו יכול למחול כ"א למחול החוב ולכך הצריך הרשב"א שיאמר הריני כאילו התקבלתי.

Source 3 · Acharonim
External

רבבות אפרים ח"ד סי' קנ"ג אות כ"ב

רבבות אפרים, ח״ד סי׳ קנ״ג

רבבות אפרים ח"ד סי' קנ"ג אות כ"ב

רבבות אפרים ח"ד סי' קנ"ג אות כ"ב — page scan on HebrewBooks
Page 294

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