by Rabbi Richard Wolpoe
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.
Parashat Naso is the Torah source for two entire Masechtot (tractates) in Shas (the Talmud):
The issue of the Nazir has elicited a wide-range of responses in Rabbinic Literature. Is being a Nazir good or bad? It can be good, it can be bad, and it’s almost always ugly!
The Good Nazir
The Talmud1 relates Shimon Haztaddiq’s policy against eating from the Nazir’s sacrifice. Apparently, he felt being a Nazir was bad.
But the exceptional case came his way. A narcissist excessively admired his own beauty. When he realized his danger, he took an oath of n’zirut – thereby becoming ugly! Once stripped of his beauty, he no longer fell into temptation and his ugliness was positively beautiful in the eyes of Shimon Haztaddiq. This “Good” Nazir rated special handling.
The Bad Nazir
On the other hand, a Nazir must bring a “sin offering” at the end of his n’zirut, suggesting that being a Nazir is bad. The mainstream consensus understanding is that the Nazir’s sin is adding on to the Torah’s exhaustive list of prohibitions by eschewing wine and not cutting his hair.
The Ramban gives a contrarian view: that the sin of the Nazir is terminating his state of pious sanctity and returning to the world of ordinary mortals. This is the sin for which the soon-to-be ex-Nazir must bring an offering, for his fall from goodness.
So being Good to excess can be Bad, unless by being Good, one avoids the temptation of being Bad.
Moral, never add on to the Torah, unless it protects you from violating the Torah itself. Avot 1:1 “assu s’yag latorah” – make a barrier around the Torah. This is good, but extra piety without concern for the existing Torah is bad.
The Ugly
But every Nazir is ugly. He lets his hair grow, and avoids what the Torah permits, namely drinking wine.
But that is just the beginning of ugly! At the end of his period of n’zirut, the Nazir shears off his locks completely! Talk about extremes!
And so it is
Shabbat Shalom!
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Rabbi Richard Wolpoe is a longtime board member of the Union for Traditional Judaism and faculty of the Institute for Traditional Judaism. Rabbi Wolpoe graduated Yeshiva of Hartford and then attended both Yeshivat Ner Yisrael in Baltimore and in Toronto, before graduating Yeshiva College, with a major in History, in 1973.
He continued his studies, receiving semikha (rabbinic ordination) from Yeshiva University’s Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan (RIETS). He previously served as Rabbi at Congregation Beth Jacob of Astoria and Congregation Ohav Sholaum of Washington Heights-Inwood.
Rabbi Wolpoe is also a mashgiach in Bergen County and a contributor to Nishma.org.
Born in Hartford, Conn., Rabbi Wolpoe now lives in Teaneck with his wife Ramona and two children, Chana Yocheved and Zvi.