Saturday 15 August 2015

Nedarim 84: People's or Levite's Produce

Daf 83 included a Mishna stating that when a woman who vows that the property of other people is konam for her, her husband cannot nullify her vow.  However, she is permitted to benefit from gleanings, etc., that are left for the poor.  Further, the Mishna notes that when one vows that Levites cannot benefit from him/her, Levites are permitted to take their gifts by force.  Even if a specific Levite is named, other Levites are permitted to take his tithings for him.

In today's daf, the rabbis consider the implications of including her husband in a woman's vow referring to "people".  In some cases he is permitted to nullify her vow based on their relationship; in others he is permitted to nullify her vow based on "affliction".  The rabbis assume that a woman who makes such a vow intends to include her husband when she refers to "people".

Regarding the latter part of the Mishna from daf 83, the rabbis consider whether or not a woman can access the poor man's tithe, demai, questionably tithed produce.  The rabbis question whether in this case we are speaking of tevel, certainly untithed produce, or demai produce. 

The rabbis then consider the notion of a Levite taking their gifts by force.  We know that tithed produce is considered to have no monetary value.  This means that a vow that one cannot benefit from this produce means nothing.  Perhaps, however, tithed produce does have monetary value.  The rabbis argue that a person who steals tithed produce is to pay for the cost of the food.  The rabbis end this daf with an argument about what that cost might be.  Is it the cost of that same food when untithed?  Or is it the cost of whatever untithed food was included in that meal?

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