In our portion this week the Torah discusses a Nazir. A Nazir is a person who takes upon himself or herself to:
A) -not to cut their hair,
B) -not to go near a dead body,
C) -not to eat grapes or drink wine
Here is a story from the Talmud about a Nazir:
Rabbi Shimon HaTzaddik said: In all my days as a priest, I never ate the guilt-offering of a ritually impure nazirite except for one occasion. One time, a particular man who was a nazirite came from the South and I saw that he had beautiful eyes and was good looking, and the fringes of his hair were arranged in curls. I said to him: My son, what did you see that made you decide to destroy this beautiful hair of yours by becoming a nazirite? A nazirite must shave off his hair at the completion of his term. If he becomes impure before the completion of his term, he shaves off his hair and starts his term of naziriteship again. He said to me: I was a shepherd for my father in my city, and I went to draw water from the spring, and I looked at my reflection [babavua] in the water and my evil inclination quickly overcame me and sought to expel me from the world. I said to myself: Wicked one! Why do you pride yourself in a world that is not yours? Why are you proud of someone who will eventually be food in the grave for worms and maggots, i.e., your body? I swear by the Temple service that I shall shave you for the sake of Heaven. Shimon HaTzaddik said: I immediately arose and kissed him on his head. I said to him: My son, may there be more who take vows of naziriteship like you among the Jewish people. About you the verse states: “When either a man or a woman shall clearly utter a vow, the vow of a nazirite, to consecrate himself to the Lord” (Numbers 6:2). This is an example of voluntary acceptance of naziriteship, i.e., becoming a nazirite with entirely pure intentions rather than as a rash statement, e.g., while in a fit of anger (Nedarim, 9b).
Birkat Kohanim
Background:
In parashat Naso Hashem tells us how the Kohanim should bless the people. This is the formula that the kohanim use to bless the people on holidays, and the blessings that many parents give their children on Friday nights.
יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ ה' וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃ May Hashem bless you and protect you!
יָאֵ֨ר ה' פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ May Hashem deal kindly and graciously with you!
יִשָּׂ֨א ה' פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ May Hashem bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace!
This week we are going to focus on the last part of the bracha - May Hashem give you peace. Before we look at how the mefarshim understand what shalom means, stop and think about how you would define it. What do you think peace might mean in this context?
Here are three different opinions in the mefarshim:
Ibn Ezra: May Hashem protect you from stones, evil animals, and your enemies.
Bechor Shor: Peace means that your yetzer hara, or evil inclination, will not bother you. Nor will the satan, or the other nations of the world. You will be protected from all injury and anyone who seeks to hurt you.
Seforno (translation): “The serenity of peace which is equivalent to an infinite, unbroken and undisturbed existence, not tainted by punishment, something which is a feature of life in the world to come.”
Questions:
- These three opinions have certain features in common, but also strong differences. What are some of the visions of peace that all 3 opinions have in common? What are some of the ways that they are different?
- Which of these definitions compares most to how you defined peace before you read the mefarshim?
- According to each of these three opinions, what is our vision of an ideal existence? Which opinion resonates most with you?
Download a printable version here
Is it getting, brrrrrrrrrrr, cold outside? It's not Christmas in July, it's Chanukah in May! In Parshas Naso, we have a chanukas habayis, or inauguration, for the mishkan. In fact, all our Chanukah Torah readings come from Naso. Anywhoo, we'll learn about inaugurating the mishkan in the desert and the re-inauguration of the Beis Hamikdash in the Chanukah story. Then, we'll celebrate Chanukah with menorahs, dreidels, Chanukah songs, and of course, Chanukah treats! No special deals on mattresses or sofa beds, though.
....what, would you rather we did Sotah?
Yoni Friedman.
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