1,476. Consecrating a Woman by Performing a Service for Her

Hilchos Ishus 5:19

Let’s say that a man consecrates a woman in exchange for him speaking to government officials about her case. Even though he did indeed speak with them and he got them to drop the charges against her, she is not consecrated until he gives her a prutah of his own money. This is because the benefit she received from his actions is considered like a loan (see the next halacha for why) and a man cannot consecrate a woman through a loan.

Hilchos Ishus 5:20

Let’s say that a man consecrates a woman in exchange for work that he will perform for her. Even though he performs the work, she is not consecrated until he gives her a prutah of his own money. The reason for this is because a worker earns his wages from the time he starts working until he finishes, continually earning portions of his wages as he goes. Therefore, his wages are considered a debt that the woman owes him and a man cannot consecrate a woman through a loan.