Ilustration Credit: Rivka Tsinman
A nazir is someone who would observe special rules as a way of becoming dedicated to God for a certain period of time:
מִיַּיִן וְשֵׁכָר יַזִּיר
חֹמֶץ יַיִן וְחֹמֶץ שֵׁכָר לֹא יִשְׁתֶּה
וְכׇל מִשְׁרַת עֲנָבִים לֹא יִשְׁתֶּה
וַעֲנָבִים לַחִים וִיבֵשִׁים לֹא יֹאכֵל׃
כֹּל יְמֵי נִזְרוֹ מִכֹּל אֲשֶׁר יֵעָשֶׂה מִגֶּפֶן הַיַּיִן
מֵחַרְצַנִּים וְעַד זָג לֹא יֹאכֵל׃
כׇּל יְמֵי נֶדֶר נִזְרוֹ תַּעַר לֹא יַעֲבֹר עַל רֹאשׁוֹ
עַד מְלֹאת הַיָּמִם אֲשֶׁר יַזִּיר לַה'
קָדֹשׁ יִהְיֶה גַּדֵּל פֶּרַע שְׂעַר רֹאשׁוֹ׃
They shall separate from wine and other alcohol; they shall not drink vinegar of wine or alcohol; they may not drink anything in which grapes have been steeped; they may not eat fresh or dried grapes.
For the whole time they are a nazir, they may not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, even seeds or skin.
For the whole time they vowed to be a nazir no razor shall touch their head; until the end of the time they are a nazir to God they shall remain kadosh (holy), with the hair of their head left to grow untrimmed.
- What do you notice? What seems important here?
- Can you think of a few different reasons for a nazir to avoid grape products and haircuts?
- Is there something you would give up for a period of time in order to be closer to God? Do you think that would be a wise idea? Why or why not?
- The Torah has lots of mitzvot that we have to do. Why do you think there is something like nazir that is optional?
- The rabbis have a big debate about whether it’s good to be a nazir! Some say yes, it’s something God wants; others say no, it’s not ideal (see Bavli Ta’anit 11a). Do you think our pesukim are encouraging the choice to be a nazir? What evidence can you find? (Can you find other evidence in the rest of the section in the Torah about being a nazir?)
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