Question:
I had a torah vort book which I had decided to give to someone as a wedding gift and even informed him about it. However, it’s been difficult for me to go to his house and deliver it. Am I obligated to do this, as in a neder for tzedaka?
Answer:
If the receipient is a poor person, any declared intent to give him a gift would constitute a neder for tzedakah.
Even if the receipient is not poor, if one informs another that he intends to give him a gift, and the circumstances give him no reason to doubt you (e.g. the gift is not of significant value) one is obliged to keep one’s word. One who does not so do is referred to in the Gemora as mechusar amonoh – untrustworthy. (Shulchan Aruch, Choshen Mishpot 241:2)
