Responsa for Nedarim 60:1
ההולכים מעכו ליפו דהלין יושבי יבשה נינהו אלא ממי שדרכן לפרש
TRAVEL FROM ACCO TO JAFFA, as these are land-dwellers, BUT THOSE WHO SAIL AWAY GREAT DISTANCES [FROM LAND]. He who referred it to the second clause learnt thus: [IF ONE VOWS NOT TO BENEFIT] FROM LAND-DWELLERS, HE MAY NOT BENEFIT FROM SEAFARERS; [this applies] NOT ONLY TO THOSE WHO TRAVEL MERELY FROM ACCO TO JAFFA. BUT EVEN TO THOSE WHO TRAVEL GREAT DISTANCES, since they eventually land.
Teshuvot Maharam
Q. A vowed to quit gambling and promised to give one mark for a holy cause should he break his vow. He subsequently gave money to a friend to gamble for him. Must he pay the promised mark?
A. Vows are interpreted according to common parlance. If the phrase "I will not gamble again" includes, in common parlance, gambling by proxy, he must pay the fine. If, however, the implications of the phrase in common speech can not be determined, we must follow Biblical use of terms. In Biblical law a person is responsible for the acts of his agent unless the agent himself commits a sin by carrying out his mission. Although A's vow was made in the form of Asmakta, it is binding since all promises to a holy cause, even when made in the form of Asmakta, are binding.
SOURCES: Cr. 299, 300; Pr. 493, 494; L. 211, 212; Mordecai Hagadol p. 337b. Cf. Asher, Responsa 13, 2; Agudah B.K. 51.
A. Vows are interpreted according to common parlance. If the phrase "I will not gamble again" includes, in common parlance, gambling by proxy, he must pay the fine. If, however, the implications of the phrase in common speech can not be determined, we must follow Biblical use of terms. In Biblical law a person is responsible for the acts of his agent unless the agent himself commits a sin by carrying out his mission. Although A's vow was made in the form of Asmakta, it is binding since all promises to a holy cause, even when made in the form of Asmakta, are binding.
SOURCES: Cr. 299, 300; Pr. 493, 494; L. 211, 212; Mordecai Hagadol p. 337b. Cf. Asher, Responsa 13, 2; Agudah B.K. 51.
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