The Annulment of Vows

After Shacharit (morning prayers), men recite Hatarat Nedarim, the Annulment of the Vows (page 358 in the new Chabad Siddur). It is preferable to have ten adult Jewish men for this ceremony, i.e., one man does it in front of ten people. The reason is in case one made a vow in a dream, and such vows may only be annulled in front of ten people. If this is difficult, one may do the Hatarat Nedarim with four people, i.e., one man in front of three.

• A relative may participate in annulling the vows of a relative.
• If one does not understand Hebrew, he should recite the Hatarat Nedarim in the language he understands.
• It is preferable for each person to recite this Hatarah individually. If this is not possible, several people may say it simultaneously in front of three or (preferably) ten people.
• One who did not recite it after Shacharit may do so later on in the day. One who did not do this on Erev Rosh Hashanah may do it any time before Yom Kippur.
• It is not the custom for women to do the annulment of vows. If a woman has a specific vow that she wishes to annul, she may do so with a bait din (a court of three Jewish men) that includes a Torah scholar who is familiar with these laws (see below). Or she may send her husband to annul it on her behalf (on Erev Rosh Hashanah or on any day).
• Children up until Bar Mitzvah need not do the annulment of the vows.
• Some say that this general annulment only works for vows which were forgotten. To annul a specific vow, one must inform one of the members of this court who is familiar with the laws of annulling vows as to specifics of the vow. Then, if according to the laws of annulling vows this vow may be nullified, the court may do so.