Sources from essay by Rabbi Marcia R. Plumb in The Mussar Torah Commentary
(2) Speak to the Israelites and say to them: If any men or women explicitly utter a nazirite’s vow, to set themselves apart for יהוה, (3) they shall abstain from wine and any other intoxicant; they shall not drink vinegar of wine or of any other intoxicant, neither shall they drink anything in which grapes have been steeped, nor eat grapes fresh or dried.
(5) Throughout the term of their vow as nazirite, no razor shall touch their head; it shall remain consecrated until the completion of their term as nazirite of יהוה, the hair of their head being left to grow untrimmed. (6) Throughout the term that they have set apart for יהוה, they shall not go in where there is a dead person. (7) Even if their father or mother, or their brother or sister should die, they must not become defiled for any of them, since hair set apart for their God is upon their head: (8) throughout their term as nazirite they are consecrated to יהוה.
(13) This is the ritual for the nazirite: On the day that the term as nazirite is completed, the person shall be brought to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting.
The word Nazir ("Nazirite") derives from the same root as the word z'rizut (זריזות). As a middah, the word z'rizut refers to "alacrity," "enthusiasm," and "persistence." It is often seen as a trait to help motivate us to achieve our goals. It is a great middah for procrastinators. When we feel overwhelmed by our to-do lists or want to achieve a goal but find ourselves avoiding it, we need z'rizut. Z'rizut helps us make progress because it reminds us to embrace our dreams and bring them to reality. Z'rizut helps us clear obstacles that keep us from moving forward.
-Rabbi Marcia Plumb
In the case of this parashah, there are three ways to understand z'rizut. One is being quick off the mark to take action. Z'rizut is the joyful and efficient energy that gets us going and enables us to fire up new endeavors. Morinis explains this kind of z'rizut by reference to Akeidat Yitzchak, the Binding of Isaac. In Genesis 22:3, we read,
"Abraham rose early." In the story of the Binding of Isaac, God gave Abraham a task. Regardless of what we may think of that task (to sacrifice Isaac), Abraham embraced it with joyful energy and love for God. His passion, his z'rizut, drove him not to delay and to do, as Morinis says, "what needed to be done."
Parashat Naso gives us another example of doing what needs to be done. At the beginning of the sidrah, God gives each of the tribes a to-do list that will contribute to building the Mishkan. No tribe has to take full responsibility for it, but all have to play a role for it to be built. At the end of the long list of tasks (Numbers 4:21-49), we read...
-Rabbi Marcia Plumb
The second possible understanding of z'rizut is "having the persistence to stay with the task through to completion." It is common to have great new ideas, begin to act on them, and then not to follow through, Maybe we lost our enthusiasm or became afraid of the work needed to bring our ideas to fruition. Z'rizut is the middah we cultivate to keep putting one foot in front of the other, slowly but surely overcoming all obstacles...
Nazirites are not distracted by temptations. They keep their eyes on their goals, and they adhere to their paths of self-discipline. Nazirites have the dedication to live by their principles, and they know that they must maintain continuous discipline, not hot passion or quick enthusiasm. They know that they must steadily put one foot in front of the other, being gentle and compassionate with themselves and others, while attempting to walk their paths. They may not always get it right, but they use z'rizut-"determination," "persistence," and "endurance" —to live the spiritual lives they seek.
-Rabbi Marcia Plumb
A third way to understand z'rizut is "having the determination to restrain oneself from acting." Just as we need z'rizut to help us act, z'rizut can help us have the discipline not to act. Z'rizut helps us refrain from overeating, over-drinking, or indulging in other self- destructive behaviour.
The Nazirites in our parashah practice this third definition of Z'rizut. Nazirites decide to follow a spiritual path built on strict discipline. They must abstain from drinking alcohol and from cutting their hair. They take on obligations that enable them to find holiness and closeness to God. For them, reaching this spiritual closeness is paramount, pursued with passion.
Orchot Tzadikim says, "Those who act with zeal demonstrate clearly that they love their Creator, as servants who loves their master and spur themselves to render service and to do God's will. For zeal depends upon the state of one's heart. When people free their hearts of all other thoughts that reside in it and seize upon one thought, then they will undoubtedly be zealous in its execution.
-Rabbi Marcia Plumb
Z'rizut gives us the enthusiasm we need to embrace our goals. We draw on it to maintain our determination and persistence when our goals feel overwhelmingly far away and beyond our reach. Z'rizut enables us to keep our focus on what we are trying to achieve, and refrain from that which draws us away from it. Z'rizut is the joyful and efficient energy that gets us going and lifts us over our challenges.
-Rabbi Marcia Plumb
Questions to Ask
Everyone tends to be lazy in situations in which they feel they have no obligation to act. What then creates a sense of obligation that motivates us to act?
Identify situation where you lacked enthusiasm or were lazy. Identify situations where you sprung to action enthusiastically.
Try to uncover the source of your laziness, inaction, or lack of enthusiasm.
Identify situations where you sprung to action enthusiastically. What was the source of the enthusiasm?