Faith
I Took Something Upon Myself and Did Not Say Bli Neder. What Should I Do?
Question
Hello, honorable rabbi,
A few days ago I was at a Torah class given by a rabbi whom I greatly respect, and I took something upon myself without saying bli neder, and now I was told that this counts as having made a neder, and that I am obligated to do it. I did not know that this was considered making a neder. Do I need hatarat nedarim, because I will not be able to do what I took upon myself? What can I do??
Thank you very much in advance!
A few days ago I was at a Torah class given by a rabbi whom I greatly respect, and I took something upon myself without saying bli neder, and now I was told that this counts as having made a neder, and that I am obligated to do it. I did not know that this was considered making a neder. Do I need hatarat nedarim, because I will not be able to do what I took upon myself? What can I do??
Thank you very much in advance!
Answer
Hello,
Indeed, any commitment related to a mitzvah is considered a neder, even if you did not say that you were accepting it upon yourself as a neder.
In order to annul the neder, you should go to a local rabbi, who will check whether this neder of a mitzvah can be annulled, and if so, he will join two other people to annul the neder for you.
Sources: This is also written in Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah (siman 213, section 2): one who says, I will learn this chapter is considered as if he made a neder to give tzedakah; and the Rema wrote, or to do other mitzvot, and his neder is binding. The Shach explained that this means that when one says to do other mitzvot, his ruling is likewise like one who says, I will learn this chapter, and it is a neder.
Much success,
Hillel Meirs
Indeed, any commitment related to a mitzvah is considered a neder, even if you did not say that you were accepting it upon yourself as a neder.
In order to annul the neder, you should go to a local rabbi, who will check whether this neder of a mitzvah can be annulled, and if so, he will join two other people to annul the neder for you.
Sources: This is also written in Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah (siman 213, section 2): one who says, I will learn this chapter is considered as if he made a neder to give tzedakah; and the Rema wrote, or to do other mitzvot, and his neder is binding. The Shach explained that this means that when one says to do other mitzvot, his ruling is likewise like one who says, I will learn this chapter, and it is a neder.
Much success,
Hillel Meirs
