Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Tuesday's Thoughts On The Daf - Nazir 4

Although today's daf is Nazir 5, I thought that the following story from yesterday's daf (Nazir 4) could offer a little perspective on the Tractate of Nazir.

By way of introduction, the Gemara in Nedarim (9b) views a vow of nezirus as a vow of the wicked. The negative view of becoming a Nazir is self evident in two respects: (a) the vow can be taken on as a knee-jerk reaction to seeing a Sotah in her degraded state that resulted from the abuse of alcohol (Nazir 2a); (b) the Nazir (because of his vow) loses the ability to perform certain positive commandments, such as making kiddush or havdalah on wine.

Another negative aspect can be seen in relation to a Nazir who either intentionally or accidentally becomes impure by exposure to a dead body. In the event that this exposure occurs, the Nazir is required to bring an asham (guilt) sacrifice and recommence his period of observance of the Nazir laws. The Tosafos on 4b comments that the Nazir, who having fulfilled some of the time of his Nazir period, must recommence the observance after having been purified from exposure to the dead body. The Tosafos theorizes that this person may come to regret his acceptance of the Nazir vow, thus making the asham sacrifice less than sincere.

In connection to this asham sacrifice, the Gemara tells the story of Shimon Hatzadik and in so doing frames how rarely a person becomes a Nazir for altruistic reasons. The Gemara relates that Shimon Hatzadisk stated that he never partook of the asham offering of a Nazir who became impure (under the reasons laid out by Tosafos above) with the exception of a certain man. This individual came to Shimon from the South of Israel, with beautiful looks and neatly arranged hair. Shimon asked the man - why would you like to destroy your hair (as the Nazir is required to shave it off at the end of the period of Nazirus). The man responded that he had taken a flock of sheep to water, when he observed his own reflection in the water. In so doing, he noticed how attractive he looked and felt that his evil inclination would push him to go out and use his looks to engage in immoral acts.

Aware of his feelings, the man responded to himself - this is not my world, why am I acting so conceitedly when in the end I will eventually become worm and maggot fodder. The man immediately declared that he would become a Nazir so that he could cut off his beautiful hair for the sake of Heaven. Shimon Hatzadik was so taken by the man's story, that he praised the man and indicated that since he acted with such sincerity, Shimon would eat from his asham sacrifice.

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