Can You Do Hataras Nedarim on Shabbos? Practical Halacha Explained?[1]
It’s not uncommon to find oneself in a situation on Shabbos where a personal vow or stringency suddenly becomes relevant. For example, someone may have accepted not to enter a certain institution, and then on Shabbos a situation arises that requires him to go there. Or a person may have a personal stringency—such as refraining from carrying certain items—and now circumstances arise where carrying becomes necessary. These kinds of situations can create real tension between one’s prior commitments and the needs of Shabbos. This leads to a natural question: can one perform Hataras Nedarim on Shabbos itself, or must one wait until afterward?
- A Shabbos Need:[2]
Hataras Nedarim may be performed on Shabbos when annulling the vow is necessary for Shabbos itself. [Anything from which a person derives enjoyment on Shabbos is considered a Shabbos need in this regard.[3] This includes one who made a vow not to eat or drink[4], not to partake in a specific food or beverage, or not to wear certain clothing.[5] It likewise includes one who vowed not to sleep[6], or a woman who vowed to refrain from wearing a particular ornament[7]—all of these are considered Shabbos needs and may be annulled on Shabbos.]
If could have done before Shabbos: Hataras Nedarim may be performed on Shabbos for Shabbos needs even if the vow could have been annulled before Shabbos. [Nonetheless, even in cases where it is permitted to annul the vow on Shabbos, it is initially preferable to perform the annulment before Shabbos rather than on Shabbos itself.[8]]
Examples of vows that may be annulled on Shabbos:[9]
- A vow not to drink wine.
- A vow not to eat
- A vow not to wear clothing needed for Shabbos.
- No Shabbos Need:[10]
If the vow has no relevance to Shabbos needs, one may not perform Hataras Nedarim on Shabbos.[11] This applies even if there was no earlier opportunity to annul it.
Need of a Mitzvah: [If the annulment is needed for the sake of a mitzvah, then it is permitted to perform Hataras Nedarim on Shabbos even if it is not directly related to the needs of Shabbos itself.[12]]
- Exceptions to No Shabbos Need:
Husband and Father Hafaras Nedarim:[13] A husband may revoke (Hafarah) his wife’s vows that he hears of on Shabbos, and a father may likewise revoke the vows of his young daughter that he hears of on Shabbos, even if they are unrelated to the needs of Shabbos.[14] [However, this applies only to Hafarah, which is the specific annulment performed by a husband for his wife or a father for his daughter. He may not perform Hataras Nedarim (annulment through a Beis Din or panel) on behalf of his wife or daughter on Shabbos when the vow is unrelated to Shabbos needs.]
Deadline Falls on Shabbos[15] If one swore to do something by a specific date, and that deadline falls on Shabbos, then if Shabbos began before he fulfilled the oath, and the act he swore to perform may not be done on Shabbos, the oath may be annulled on Shabbos when applicable.[16]
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The Nussach[17] When Hataras Nedarim is performed on Shabbos, one should not recite the full formal text that is normally said during the standard annulment of vows. Rather, the process is shortened, and only the essential request for annulment is made, followed by the Beis Din responding simply: “Mutar lach, mutar lach, mutar lach” (it is permitted to you), without the extended wording customarily used during the week.
Q&A May one perform Hataras Nedarim for unrelated matters during Bein Hashmashos of Friday night?[18] One may perform Hataras Nedarim during Bein Hashmashos even for matters that are not needed for Shabbos.
If one transgressed and performed Hataras Nedarim on Shabbos must it be redone after Shabbos?[19] No. The Hataraha remains valid and there is no need to redo it after Shabbos.
If Chalah or Teruma fell into one’s dish may one revoke its separation on Shabbos?[20] Yes. If Chalah or Teruma fell into one’s dish one may revoke its separation on Shabbos.
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- Two-Sentence Summary:
Hataras Nedarim may be performed on Shabbos when the annulment is needed for Shabbos itself or to prevent violating the vow that day. If the vow has no connection to Shabbos needs, and is not needed for the sake of a Mitzvah, it may not be annulled on Shabbos.
- Table of Laws
| Scenario | What To Do |
| Vow affects Shabbos needs, such as food or clothing | May be annulled on Shabbos |
| Could have been annulled before Shabbos | Still permitted if needed for Shabbos |
| Vow is unrelated to Shabbos needs | May not be annulled on Shabbos |
| Deadline falls on Shabbos | May be annulled to avoid transgression |
| Bein Hashmashos | May be annulled then, even if unrelated to Shabbos |
| Teruma/Challah issue on Shabbos | May be revoked when necessary |
- Practical Examples:
- David accepted upon himself not to drink wine, and now needs to make Kiddush on Friday night. He may sit with three men at the Shabbos table and have them perform Hataras Nedarim for him so he can drink the wine.
- Moshe made a vow not to eat meat, and is now at the Shabbos seudah where meat is being served. He may gather three people in shul on Friday night or Shabbos day and have them annul the vow.
- Yaakov accepted not to wear a certain garment, and realizes on Shabbos that it is the only proper clothing he has available. He may convene three individuals at the Shabbos table or in shul and have them perform Hataras Nedarim so he may wear it.
- Shimon made a vow never to enter a particular Shul after having a falling out there. On Shabbos, he is invited to a close friend’s Kiddush taking place in that very Shul, and wishes to attend. Since this affects his Shabbos participation, he may have three men present (for example, in his shul) perform Hataras Nedarim so he may enter.
- Eliyahu is stringent not to carry even within an Eruv, but on Shabbos his young child refuses to walk and must be carried home from shul. Since this situation now directly affects his ability to manage on Shabbos, he may gather three individuals nearby (such as in shul or at home) to perform Hataras Nedarim to permit him to carry the child.
- Yosef accidentally separated Challah on Erev Shabbos and then mistakenly mixed it back into the dough. On Shabbos, the bread may not be eaten in its current state, as it contains Challah. In the Diaspora, he may gather three people at the Shabbos table or in shul and perform a form of Hataras Nedarim to retroactively revoke the original separation. After doing so, the bread becomes permitted to be eaten on Shabbos, provided that he leaves over a small portion. After Shabbos, he separates Challah properly from that remaining portion.
[1] See Admur 341; Michaber 341; Shabbos 157a; Kaf Hachaim 341:1-15; Piskeiy Teshuvos 341:1-4
[2] Admur 341:1 “Nedarim (vows) may be annulled on Shabbos if they are for the sake of Shabbos—for example, if someone vowed not to eat meat, not to drink wine, or not to wear a garment that he needs that day. This is permitted even if he had time to annul them before Shabbos. However, vows that are not related to the needs of Shabbos may not be annulled on Shabbos, even if it was not possible to annul them beforehand. Nevertheless, a husband may annul his wife’s vows even if they are unrelated to Shabbos, and likewise a father for his daughter, because if he does not annul them on the day he hears of them, he can no longer annul them afterward.”; Michaber 341:1; Mishneh and Gemara Shabbos 157a
[3] Kaf Hachaim 341:5 based on Michaber Y.D. 228:3; Piskeiy Teshuvos 341:2
[4] Michaber ibid
[5] Admur 341:1; M”A 341:1; Tosafus Eruvin 30b; Kaf Hachaim 341:5
[6] P”M 341 A”A 1; M”B 341:2; Kaf Hachaim 341:5
[7] Kaf Hachaim 341:5 based on Rashi Nedarim 77a
[8] Kaf Hachaim 341:7
[9] Admur 341:1; M”A 341:1; Tosafus Eruvin 30b; Kaf Hachaim 341:5
[10] Admur ibid; Implication of Michaber and Mishneh ibid; Michaber Y.D. 228:3; Levush 341; Kaf Hachaim 341:1
[11] The reason: As why should we permit a Melacha on Shabbos that can be done after Shabbos. [Levush 341; M”B 341:1; Kaf Hachaim 341:1] Alternatively, this is forbidden due to Mimtzo Cheftecha. [Michaber Y.D. 228:3; Shaar Hatziyon 341:1; in name of P”M 341 M”Z Kaf Hachaim 341:1] See Piskeiy Teshuvos 341:1
[12] Chayeh Adam Kelal 60:16; Tosefes Shabbos 341:1; M”B 341:1; Aruch Hashulchan 341:1; Kaf Hachaim 341:3; See Piskeiy Teshuvos 341:1
[13] Admur ibid; Michaber ibid; Tur ibid; Shabbos ibid; See Kaf Hachaim 341:8-12; Piskeiy Teshuvos 341:3-4
[14] The reason: This is because the ability of a husband or father to annul such vows is limited to the day that he hears of them, and if he does not do so on that day, he loses the opportunity to annul them thereafter. [Admur ibid]
Explanation:
There are two distinct methods of annulling vows:
- Hafarah: A Torah-given authority granted to a husband or father to revoke vows of his wife or minor daughter. This can be done unilaterally and is limited to the day he hears the vow.
- Hatarah: A general annulment of vows performed through a Beis Din or group (typically three people), which applies to anyone but is subject to the general restrictions of Shabbos.
Age of the Daughter: A father’s right of hafarah applies only to his daughter while she is a minor (ketana) or a na’arah (from age 12 until 12½), provided she is still under his authority. Once she becomes a bogeres (after 12½) or leaves his domain, he no longer has the ability to annul her vows.
[15] Admur 341:2 “If someone swore to perform a certain task by a specific deadline, and he was unable to complete it until the final day of that period—and that final day falls on Shabbos, when the task cannot be done—then if there are valid grounds to annul the vow, it may be annulled even on Shabbos. This is because if it is not annulled on that day, it will no longer be possible to annul it afterward.”; Michaber 341:2; Rashba 7:17; See Kaf Hachaim 341:13-15
[16] As if it is not revoked today he will transgress the vow. [ibid]
[17] Kaf Hachaium 341:2; See Michaber Y.D. 228:3; Torah Lishma 87; M”B 341:3; Piskeiy Teshuvos 341:4
[18] Peri Megadim A”A 342; Piskeiy Teshuvos 341 footnote 2
[19] Kaf Hachaim 341:4; 339:4
[20] Shaareiy Teshuvah 341:1 in name of Shvus Yaakov 3:27; Kaf Hachaim 341:6