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Parshat Naso
2000
The Middle Road
Leviticus 4:21-7:89
In this section of the Torah portion is the description of the nazirite, who has pledged certain abstinences for himself in order to discover holiness.
Leviticus 6:1-8
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the Israelites and say to them: If anyone, man or woman, explicitly utters a nazirite's vow, to set himself apart for the Lord, he shall abstain from wine and any other intoxicant: he shall not drink vinegar of wine or of any grapes fresh or dried. Throughout his term as a nazirite, he may not eat anything that is obtained from the grapevine, even seeds or skin. Throughout the term of his vow as a nazirite, no razor shall touch his hair...Throughout the term...he shall not go in where there is a dead person, even if his father or mother or his brother or sister should die, he must not defile himself for them..."
Your Leviticus Navigator
1. Have you ever experienced overindulgence in a food, a drink, or other excessive behavior? How did it make you feel?
2. Do you approve or disapprove of the nazirite practice of abstaining from "worldly pleasures" such as wine?
3. How might the nazirite behavior be a positive influence on a person?
4. What might be the negative effects on a person who practices this separation from the rest of society? From their family? Are there any?
Rabbis have disagreed about the role of the nazirite in Jewish tradition. Many rabbis have praised this ascetic behavior as a way of teaching young people to distance themselves from excessive passions. Yet, others criticize this behavior saying it goes against the Torah! Moses Maimonides, in the Mishneh Torah opposes the idea of self-denial, saying that it is "an evil path." He writes:
Mishneh Torah
Deot 3:1
"The Torah advocates no mortification of the body. Its intention was that a person should follow nature, taking the middle road. One should eat in moderation and live uprightly and faithfully within the society of others, not in the deserts and mountains. One should not afflict the body by wearing wool and hair. Because the Torah forbids such abstention from the joys of life, it warns us with the example of the nazirite."
Your Mishneh Torah Navigator
1. Why does Maimonides criticize the behavior of the nazirite?
2. How might denying the body bring us closer to holiness? (We observe a day of this at which holy day each year?)
3. How does Judaism view asceticism?
4. How would you respond to a view that asceticism is "a way for young people to distance themselves from worldly pleasures and passions." David Kimchi
A Word
Each of us is born with drives and desires. Our goal is to reach our potential in life without being sidetracked or overrun by our passions and pleasures along the way. Some people would suggest that the only way not to become overwhelmed by temptation is to deny ourselves of it completely -- especially as young adults, when the temptation is so great. And others would argue that life is also about experiencing these joys, that life without food and drink and pleasure is a life not lived.
It is our goal as human beings and as Jews to live life well and live it responsibly. For most of us it means tasting and sampling along the way, but always in moderation.
L'chayim. To life.
Prepared by Rabbi Andrea Lerner, Midwest Director of Hillel's Joseph Meyerhoff Center for Jewish Learning and Campus Rabbi, Hillel at the University of Wisconsin.
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