Oath Not to Eat

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Question

Hi, I'm on a diet and it's hard for me not to eat at night. I ended up swearing not to eat anything until I go to sleep. I know it's not good, but somehow later my father made something and told me to eat, and I said I wasn't hungry, but he insisted, and I ate. Does this count as breaking an oath? And if so, what should I have done?

Answer

Hello,

If you swore not to eat, you are not allowed to eat.

If you ate, you have violated your oath.

It is highly advisable not to swear, as one might violate the oath. Therefore, the oath should be annulled in front of three people.

If you are harming yourself by not eating, your oath is improper, and you must annul it.

Source

Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, Siman 238

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