by Rabbi Shlomo Segal
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are that of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Union for Traditional Judaism, unless otherwise indicated.
Listen to Rabbi Segal’s d’var Torah on Naso here. A summary is below. Click here to access all episodes of “Segal’s Sentiments,” Rabbi Segal’s d’var Torah podcast.
The lesson that emerges here is that the life of the Nazir is by no means an ideal Jewish life style. Being excessively righteous has serious consequences. I know many people who have decided to become more religious. Some of them choose to live a life of separation cut off from their families, friends and community and from society at large. I believe such an approach is erroneous. The religious person who retreats from others in the name of piety loses the opportunity to make a Kiddush Hashem, to magnify God’s name by influencing others in a positive way.
Let’s take another example. It is a good thing to be nice to others. However, if you are excessively magnanimous and always afraid to defend yourself out of fear that you might step on other peoples toes than you will be the one to be walked on in life. Such an attitude often places us in dangerous situations. Judaism does not advocate extreme approaches to life but rather requires us to exercise our common sense in achieving a balance in every endeavor we choose to engage in. The book of Kohelet warns us Al Tehi Tzadik Harbeh, “Do not be overly Righteous.” (Kohelet 7:16)
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Rabbi Shlomo Segal is a member of the UTJ’s Panel of Halakhic Inquiry, which issues religious responses on behalf of the organization on contemporary issues, and vice president of Morashah, the rabbinic arm of UTJ.
Rabbi Segal is also a member of the International Rabbinic Fellowship (IRF) and the New York Board of Rabbis.
In fall 2013, after a decade of pulpit experience, Rabbi Segal founded Kehilat Moshe, a liberal Orthodox congregation in the Sheepshead Bay area of Brooklyn, NY. While still a new congregation, Kehilat Moshe has emerged as a diverse, multi-generational caring and intellectually stimulating community rooted in both pluralism and halakhah.
Rabbi Segal delivers a weekly commentary which you can find at kehilatmoshe.org and on YouTube. He was also interviewed on National Public Radio on the subject of “Swinging Chicken Ritual Divides Orthodox Jews”.