⚖️ Hilchos Shabbos Table Learning

A Weekly Guide to Shabbos Laws for Personal Study and Family Discussion

 

✨ This Week’s Topic ✨
📜 Hataras Nedarim on Shabbos: Practical Halacha Explained

 

🎯 The Core Idea

The permissibility of performing Hataras Nedarim (annulment of vows) on Shabbos depends on one key principle:

👉 Is the annulment needed for Shabbos (or a mitzvah)?

✅ If yes → It may be permitted

🚫 If no → It is generally forbidden

 

📖 A. When There Is a Shabbos Need

✅ Permitted on Shabbos

Hataras Nedarim may be done on Shabbos when the vow interferes with Shabbos enjoyment or function.

💡 This includes anything that enhances Oneg Shabbos, such as:

🍷 Eating or drinking (e.g., wine for Kiddush)

🍖 Eating specific Shabbos foods (like meat)

👕 Wearing appropriate clothing

😴 Sleeping properly

💍 Personal appearance (e.g., jewelry)

📌 Even if it could have been annulled before Shabbos, it is still permitted when needed on Shabbos.

⚠️ However:
Preferably, one should arrange annulment before Shabbos when possible.

 

✅ Examples of Shabbos-Related Vows

A vow not to drink wine

A vow not to eat meat

A vow not to wear needed clothing

👉 All may be annulled on Shabbos if they affect Shabbos.

 

🚫 B. When There Is No Shabbos Need

🚫 Forbidden on Shabbos

If the vow has no connection to Shabbos, one may not perform Hataras Nedarim on Shabbos—even if there was no earlier opportunity.

 

✅ Exception: Mitzvah Need

If the annulment is needed for a mitzvah, then:

✅ It may be done on Shabbos, even if not directly Shabbos-related.

 

⚖️ C. Special Exceptions

👨‍👩‍👧 Hafaras Nedarim (Husband/Father)

✅ A husband or father may annul vows on Shabbos:

Husband → wife

Father → young daughter

💡 Even if unrelated to Shabbos

📌 Reason:
They lose the right if not done that same day.

⚠️ Important distinction:

✅ Hafarah (personal annulment) → allowed

🚫 Hatarah via Beis Din → still restricted

⏳ Deadline Falls on Shabbos

If:

A vow must be fulfilled by Shabbos

And it cannot be fulfilled on Shabbos

👉 Then:

✅ It may be annulled on Shabbos
(to avoid transgressing the vow)

 

📝 D. The Shabbos Nussach

When performing Hataras Nedarim on Shabbos:

⚠️ Use a shortened version

Instead of the full text:

👉 The Beis Din simply says:
“Mutar lach, mutar lach, mutar lach”
(“It is permitted to you”)

 

❓ Q&A

🌅 Bein Hashmashos (Friday evening twilight)

✅ Hataras Nedarim may be done
—even for non-Shabbos-related matters

 

❗ If done improperly on Shabbos

✅ It remains valid
(no need to redo after Shabbos)

 

🍞 Teruma or Challah got mixed into food

✅ One may revoke its separation on Shabbos
to permit eating

 

🧭 E. Summary Table

Scenario	Halacha
Affects Shabbos needs	✅ May annul on Shabbos
Could have done before Shabbos	✅ Still allowed if needed now
No Shabbos relevance	🚫 May not annul
Deadline falls on Shabbos	✅ May annul
Bein Hashmashos	✅ Even unrelated allowed
Teruma/Challah issue	✅ May revoke

 

 

💡 F. Practical Examples

🍷 Example 1 – Kiddush Wine

David vowed not to drink wine.
👉 Needs to make Kiddush.
✅ He gathers three men and performs Hatarah.

 

🍖 Example 2 – Meat at Seudah

Moshe vowed not to eat meat.
👉 At a Shabbos meal with meat.
✅ He may annul the vow on Shabbos.

 

👕 Example 3 – Clothing

Yaakov vowed not to wear a garment.
👉 It’s his only Shabbos-appropriate clothing.
✅ He may annul the vow.

 

🏫 Example 4 – Entering a Shul

Shimon vowed not to enter a certain shul.
👉 Invited to a Shabbos Kiddush there.
✅ May annul, as it affects Shabbos participation.

 

👶 Example 5 – Carrying a Child

Eliyahu is stringent not to carry in an Eruv.
👉 His child must be carried.
✅ He may perform Hatarah to allow carrying.

 

🍞 Example 6 – Challah Mixed Back

Yosef mistakenly mixed Challah into dough.
👉 On Shabbos, bread is forbidden.
✅ He may annul the separation, leave some dough, and fix after Shabbos.

 

 

🧭 Bottom Line

✅ Hataras Nedarim is allowed on Shabbos when needed for Shabbos or a mitzvah

🚫 It is not allowed for unrelated matters

⚖️ Special exceptions exist (e.g., deadlines, Hafarah)

🗣️ Use a shortened text when done on Shabbos

🎯 Goal: Preserve both the sanctity of Shabbos and the integrity of one’s commitments.