to dead bodies, including one's closest relatives. Annulment (hatarat nedarim) Generally, a neder is so strong, that it cannot be broken, and doing so constitutes an aveira (sin). For this reason, it is better not to make a neder at all, than to make a neder and not to keep it. But there are times when halakha permits a neder to be broken. A neder may be annulled by either a beit din (court of Jewish law, composed of at least three adult men), or singlehandedly by a Talmid chacham (Torah scholar). Either one must ask the individual who originally made the neder why they now wish to have their neder annulled. If a valid argument can be found to release that person from his or her vow, the vow is then cancelled. Nedarim by women According to the Torah, a neder pronounced by a married woman or a female "still living in her father's house" can be "disallowed" by her husband or her father, respectively, if they so choose, but only on the day that they hear the vow. Otherwise, the neder may not be broken. The neder of a widow or a divorcee is also binding once uttered. The fact that a neder by a woman can so easily be invalidated by a man has been criticized by some contemporary feminists, though others see it as a kindness in Judaism toward women. Under the latter view, in a marriage, it is a means of keeping marital partners in harmony by requiring women to discuss a neder with her husband before taking it on. High Holidays Traditionally, around the High Holidays, all nedarim are annulled in order to free all persons of the liability in the event they are not fulfilled. They first are annulled on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, and then by the recitation of Kol Nidre at the beginning of Yom Kippur. The common practice is for groups of people, such as family members or a minyan to ask for the annulment together. But one who is unable to do this can rely on the Kol Nidre of the community, which is recited on behalf of all Jews. Through the High Holiday annulment, the following types of nedarim can be annulled: The fulfillment of a voluntary commandment A practice beyond Torah commandments in which the plan was to fulfill the neder indefinitely A practice that was