About Rabbi Jack Abramowitz
Rabbi Jack Abramowitz served as Director of Programs for NCSY before becoming Associate Director of the Pepa and Rabbi Joseph Karasick Department of Synagogue Services. Rabbi Abramowitz holds degrees in Jewish studies, communications and Higher Education Administration. Among his accomplishments, he authored NCSY's Torah on One Foot series of educational pamphlets and created negiah.org, the first abstinence web site for Jewish teens. Rabbi Abramowitz is the author of The Shnayim Mikra Companion on Torah, The Nach Yomi Companion volumes 1 and 2 on the books of the Prophets and the Writings, and The Tzniyus Book.

Recent Posts

Taryag: A Mitzvah a Day

Questions? Contact us at taryag@ou.org

PARSHAT Eikev
MITZVAH COUNTER
Mitzvos to date: 435
Positives:185
Negatives:250
That can be performed today:191
Plus those that can be performed only in Israel:20

435. Swear Words: The obligation to swear in God’s Name when swearing is necessary


…and in His Name you shall swear. (Deuteronomy 10:20)

In Mitzvos #30 and #227, we spoke about the prohibitions against swearing unnecessarily and falsely, respectively. Here, however, we have an obligation to swear! The Talmud in Shevuos (35b) tells us that just as God has told us not to swear in certain circumstances, He has obligated us to do so in others, for example when required in a court case. Jews are not to swear by any earthly object (such as, "On my mother's grave!"), but only by God Himself.

It might seem strange that we should swear by God in something as mundane as financial matters, especially seeing how averse we are to swearing at all under normal circumstances. If anything, that's kind of the point! The very fact that we are swearing at all shows how honest and serious the matter is. By invoking God, we are actually bringing His blessing into the matter.

The Ramban (Nachmanides) is of the opinion that swearing is always optional and one is never obligated to do so.

This mitzvah applies to men and women in all times and places. It is discussed in the Talmud in the tractates of Nedarim (8a), Sanhedrin (63b) and, of course, Shevuos (35a-b). It is codified in the Shulchan Aruch in Yoreh Deah 237. This mitzvah is #7 of the 248 positive mitzvos in the Rambam’s Sefer HaMitzvos; it is not listed in the Sefer HaMitzvos HaKatzar of the Chofetz Chaim.



Submit a Comment

Name:


Email: (Rest assured, your email address will not be published.)

Comment:


Please enter the word you see in the image below:





© Orthodox Union - All Rights Reserved.
The views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of the Orthodox Union and its agencies