Q&A: Conditional Betrothal
Conditional Betrothal
Question
With God's help,
To our master Michael, a weighty difficulty is buzzing around in my mind like the gnat in Titus's brain, may his name be erased; so forgive me for asking you words of Torah on a day when one is forbidden to think about them.
If one betroths a woman on condition that the Jewish law follows so-and-so in such-and-such a topic / passage,
is she betrothed or not? (Or perhaps it is a doubtful betrothal?)
Does this depend on the view of the halakhic decisor on the matter, the groom, the woman, or some combination of them? And is there any practical difference between an opinion accepted in the Talmud, a Jewish law that became established later, or a dispute among great authorities?
And what happens if that Jewish law would invalidate his own betrothal? (For example, if one betroths a woman with a perutah on condition that the Jewish law follows Beit Shammai, who require a dinar.)
May we merit to see the consolation of Zion speedily in our days,
The one who seeks his well-being, Fishel-Zunz
Answer
Check what people mean by this in ordinary usage. With vows, we follow common human language.