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What is the fundamental difference between nedarim and shevuot? The Ramban (רמב"ן)'s distinction reveals that shevuot invoke God's name for verification, while nedarim tap into God's creative life-force itself. This explains why nedarim create actual kedushah and can override mitzvos - they access the same divine power that spoke the world into existence.
This shiur presents a complex and profound analysis of the Ramban (רמב"ן)'s explanation of the essential differences between nedarim (vows) and shevuot (oaths). The Ramban establishes that a shevuah is "b'Shem" (in God's name) while a neder is "l'Hashem (ה׳)" (to God). Drawing from the Sifri, he explains that a neder invokes "chayei hamelech" (the king's life) while a shevuah invokes the king himself. The speaker elaborates that shevuah derives from the concept of seven (shivah), while neder connects to binah (understanding). The fundamental distinction lies in their operative mechanisms. A shevuah functions as making a statement using God's name as verification - essentially declaring that the King of the universe affirms the truth of one's statement. It's a descriptive act that doesn't change reality but rather affirms it through divine testimony.
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Hilchos Nedarim - Ramban's commentary on the differences between nedarim and shevuot
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