Take the case of the nazir, or Nazirite, described in the Book of Numbers. We're talking about someone who takes a special vow to abstain from wine, avoid contact with the dead, and… well, let their hair grow wild. But why the hair? What's the deal with that uncut mane?
Bamidbar Rabbah, a collection of Rabbinic teachings on the Book of Numbers, delves into this very question, and what we find is surprisingly insightful. The verse states: “All the days of the vow of his naziriteship, a razor shall not pass on his head; until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord, he shall be holy; the hair of his head shall grow long” (Numbers 6:5).
The Rabbis of the Midrash ask, why this commandment? Why did God command the nazir not to shave? One explanation offered is that shaving actually accentuates one's features, making them more attractive. Remember Joseph in Genesis? "He shaved and changed his garments" (Genesis 41:14) before appearing before Pharaoh, implying that shaving enhanced his appearance.
Growing hair, on the other hand, is associated with suffering and mourning. The Holy One, blessed be He, says, in essence: This nazir is trying to avoid temptation by abstaining from wine. Let him also grow his hair long, making himself less attractive, so that his yetzer hara, his evil inclination, won't be so aroused. In other words, it's a form of self-imposed aesthetic discomfort, a visual reminder of their commitment.
But there's more to it than just avoiding temptation. "Until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord, he shall be holy" – the Midrash understands this to mean that the hair itself becomes holy, like consecrated items. It becomes kadosh (holy), set apart for a sacred purpose. The nazir can't touch it, because they consecrated it for the sake of Heaven.
Now, let's get into some of the nitty-gritty details. What exactly constitutes "not passing a razor"? Does that only apply to razors? What about other methods of hair removal? The text states: “Shall not pass [yaavor] on his head,” to include all removers [hamaavirim]. The Rabbis deduce that it includes severing near the root, plucking, or trimming, regardless of the amount. If we’re ultimately including everything, why does the verse specifically mention a "razor?" Ah, that's because the final shave, the one at the end of the nazir period, is specifically done with a razor.
Rabbi Yosei offers another interpretation: the mention of "razor" excludes scissors or shears from voiding the nazir's vow. Only a razor will do the trick!
Another important question: how long does someone have to commit to this nazerut, this state of being a nazir? If someone just says "I am a nazir" without specifying a time period, when do they shave? The answer, according to the verse "Until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord," is on day thirty-one. Shave on day thirty, and you haven't fulfilled your obligation.
And what about the hair itself after the mitzva is complete? Is it still considered holy? Absolutely! Even if someone else shaves the nazir, or if the shaving occurs before the designated time, the hair remains prohibited, set apart. Bar Pada even connects the Hebrew words "kadosh yihye" ("he shall be holy") to the numerical value of the letters in "yihye," which equals thirty, reinforcing the idea of a thirty-day minimum period.
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman, in the name of Rabbi Yonatan, finds another connection. The words "vow," "nazir," "his naziriteship," "he shall abstain," and "to abstain" appear twenty-nine times in the portion. But wait, they actually appear thirty times! Rabbi Yosei bar Bon explains that one instance is needed to teach the basic law and isn't included in the count.
Finally, the Midrash addresses the connection between shaving and offerings. The verse states, "Then the nazir may drink wine" (Numbers 6:20). But does the nazir just automatically drink wine? No! The Rabbis use a gezerah shavah, a verbal analogy, to connect the prohibition against drinking wine before bringing the offering to the prohibition against shaving before bringing the offering. Just as wine is forbidden until the offering, so too is shaving.
So, what can we take away from this deep dive into the laws of the nazir? It's more than just about hair and wine. It's about the power of commitment, the symbolism of outward appearance, and the intricate ways in which Jewish law seeks to guide us toward a life of holiness. And it reminds us that even seemingly strange practices can hold profound meaning when we take the time to explore them.