Saying Bli Neder When Pledging Money to Tzedakah

Why do many people say "Bli Neder" (without making a vow) whenever they say they will donate money to tzedakah?

There is a Biblical requirement to fulfill one’s vow, as detailed in the beginning of Parashas Mattos (Bamidbar 30:3).  Ordinarily, to be considered a vow a person must explicitly say, “I swear (or vow) to do such and such.”  However, if a person pledges to do a mitzvah, it is considered a vow even if the person did not use the phrase “I swear.”  Similarly, if a person performed a good deed three times, it attains the status of a vow.  Because of the risk inherent in not fulfilling a vow, the Shulchan Aruch (YD 203:4) recommends adding the words “Bli Neder” (without making a neder) whenever one pledges to give tzedakah.  Even when adding Bli Neder, the pledge should be fulfilled in any event.  Nonetheless, if one inadvertently forgot to give the tzedakah, a vow is not violated if one said Bli Neder.​

The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.