Does anybody know what time it is? TB Nedarim 60

With daf TB Nedarim 60 we begin the eighth chapter of our massekhet. This chapter clarifies what a person means when he sets a time component to his vow. For example what’s the difference between saying “today- hayom הַיּוֹם” and “one day-yom ekhad-יוֹם אֶחָד” “MISHNA: If one vows: Wine is forbidden to me as if it were an offering [konam], and for that reason I will not taste it today, he is prohibited from drinking wine only until the conclusion of that day at nightfall, and not for a twenty-four hour period….but if he said that wine is forbidden to him for one day…he is prohibited from drinking wine from the day and time he took the vow to the same time the next day” (Sefaria.org translation) you can imagine how some people might make a mistake in concluding their vow by confusing the two terms, hayom and yom ekhad.

“GEMARA: We learned in the mishna that if one says: Wine is forbidden to me as if it were an offering [konam], and for that reason I will not taste it today, he is prohibited from drinking wine only until nightfall. Rabbi Yirmeya said: Even when darkness falls he is not permitted to drink wine immediately; rather, he is required to request that a halakhic authority dissolve his vow.

“The Gemara poses a question: What is the reason that he must request the dissolution of the vow once it has already expired? The Gemara answers that Rav Yosef said: The Sages issued a rabbinic decree in the case of one who said that his vow applies today, due to the confusion that might be caused in a case where one said that his vow applies for one day, and is therefore forbidden to drink wine for twenty-four hours. There is a concern that if one who said that his vow applies today is permitted to drink wine that night, one who took a vow for one day will think that his vow also expires as soon as it is nightfall.” (Sefaria.org translation) The halakhic authority will ascertained by his questions whether the person vowed “today” or “one day” and tell him when his vow is over.

Even though we spent two months studying massekhet Nedarim and immersing ourselves in all the details of vows, the rabbis frowned upon people making vows. There is enough in the Torah that is forbidden that we don’t have to add to that list. Don’t think that making a vow forbidding something permitted makes you more pious. The result is even worse than just the opposite. It’s as if you have worshiped idols.

“Ravina said: Mareimar said to me: Your father said as follows, in the name of Rav Yosef: In accordance with whose opinion is this halakha taught by Rav Yirmeya bar Abba? It is in accordance with the opinion of Rabbi Natan, as it is taught in a baraita: Rabbi Natan says: Anyone who vows, it is as if he has built a personal altar, which is forbidden because one must bring all offerings to the Temple. And one who fulfills the vow, is as though he burns portions meant for the altar in the Temple upon it, i.e., the personal altar, thereby increasing his sin.” (Safaria.org translation)