Yerushalmi Nedarim

Just as one should not seek out opportunities for martyrdom, an amoraic teaching in y. Nedarim 9:1, 41b maintains that one should not seek out opportunities to afflict oneself through abstinence above and beyond what the Law prescribes.

R. Simeon ben Lakish discoursed: If one were to know that taking a vow of abstinence is like putting one’s neck in an iron collar would one take a vow? It is like a guard who passes a fortress and sees an empty collar and puts his own head into it. [ . . . ]

R. Isaac discoursed: If one were to know that taking a vow of abstinence is like driving a sword into one’s heart would one take a vow? [ . . . ]

R. Dimi said in the name of R. Isaac: Are the things prohibited in the law not enough for you that you want to prohibit other things to yourself?

Translated by Christine Hayes.
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Just as one should not seek out opportunities for martyrdom, an amoraic teaching in y. Nedarim 9:1, 41b maintains that one should not seek out opportunities to afflict oneself through abstinence above and beyond what the Law prescribes.

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