Responsa for Nedarim 60:5
<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> הנודר משחורי הראש אסור בקרחין ובעלי שיבות ומותר בנשים ובקטנים שאין נקראין שחורי הראש אלא אנשים
<b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. What is the reason? — Since he did not say 'from those who possess hair'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Therefore bald and grey-haired people are included, since they were once black-haired. ');"><sup>2</sup></span>
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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