![](https://guardyoureyes.com/cache/com_zoo/images/78_0018eb81450b3d6e2f34089b739c7f9e.png)
Parshas Matos: The Power of the Vow
Normally making vows is frowned upon by our sages as with someone playing with fire, but when it comes to girding oneself from temptation, we find that making vows is praised by the Torah and by Chazal. The Ohr Hachayim writes in this week's Parshas Matos (30:2):
וַיְדַבֵּר מֹשֶׁה אֶל רָאשֵׁי הַמַּטּוֹת לִבְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֵאמֹר זֶה הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר צִוָּה ה': אִישׁ כִּי יִדֹּר נֶדֶר לַה' אוֹ הִשָּׁבַע שְׁבֻעָה לֶאְסֹר אִסָּר עַל-נַפְשׁוֹ
Rough Translation (in short): "The Pasuk is saying here that there are Nedarim and Shvuos that Hashem commanded us to make... such as in cases where one has apprehension about stumbling in the area of arayos... to counteract the strength of this desire ...as Chaza"l say about Bo'az, that he swore to guard himself from transgressing when Ruth came to him in the silo at night, as it says "Chai Hashem, Shichvi ad haboker - In the name of G-d, lay here until morning". And as the Pasuk says, "Nishbati Va'akayeima, lishmor Mishpatei Tzidkecha - I have vowed and will uphold it; to guard your righteous laws", for it is a Mitzva to make a Shvuah against one's evil inclination."
Click here to learn how to make vows safely.
Someone wrote in to GYE:
I had restricted my iPhone (long ago – friend set up code) but temporarily he gave me back the code as this was only way I could renew Whatsapp, but due to a technical issue it took some time and I had open internet. It's only because of the TaPHSiC Shvuah – which I WISH would have known about properly and done ages ago, that I’m actually comfortable and not falling. What a difference from the past!
I humbly believe, if a person has a good level of emunah / Yiras Shamayim, the TaPHSiC Shvua is THE BEST MEDICINE... I really think GYE should promote it more!
Click here to listen to an Mp3 talk (40 min) that explains the TaPHSiC method in detail, or dial 712-770-5564 (U.S number), then enter the PIN: 651874# and then press reference number 3# to begin the talk.