It's more than just letting your hair grow long!
The Book of Numbers (6:6) states: “All the days of his abstinence to the Lord, he shall not approach a dead person.” Bamidbar Rabbah, a classic midrashic text, uses this verse as a springboard to explore the elevated status of the nazir. It proposes a powerful idea: "anyone who sanctifies himself below, they sanctify him above." Think about that for a moment. The efforts we make towards holiness here on earth are mirrored, amplified even, in the heavenly realms.
How does a person become a nazir? By taking a vow to abstain from wine, avoid cutting their hair, and remain ritually pure by avoiding contact with the dead. It's a commitment that sets them apart. And according to the Rabbis, this act of self-sanctification elevates the nazir to a status akin to that of a High Priest!
Consider this: Just as a High Priest is forbidden to come into contact with the dead, so too is the nazir. The Torah states regarding the High Priest, “For the crown of the anointing oil of his God is on him” (Leviticus 21:12), and similarly, regarding the nazir, it says, “For the crown of his God is on his head” (Numbers 6:7). And just as it is written regarding the priest, “Aaron was set apart, to sanctify him as most holy” (I Chronicles 23:13), so too the nazir is called holy, as it is stated, “All the days of his naziriteship he is holy to the Lord” (Numbers 6:8). The Rabbis noticed these parallels and drew a profound conclusion.
But isn't growing long hair potentially…unseemly? The Midrash anticipates this question. Doesn't long hair, which can be difficult to keep clean, make a person repulsive? The answer is a resounding NO! Because the nazir grows their hair "for the sake of Heaven," it becomes a crown. It's a physical manifestation of a spiritual commitment. A visible sign of their dedication.
The text goes on to discuss the ramifications of breaking the nazir vow. Even after the designated period of the vow is complete, but before the required sacrifices are brought, the restrictions remain in place! If the nazir drinks wine, shaves, or comes into contact with a corpse during this interim period, they are liable to receive forty lashes. The Rabbis meticulously derive this from the language of the Torah. Numbers 6:4 states that “All the days of his naziriteship [from anything that may be derived from the grapevine…he shall not eat],” which renders the days after completion like the days before completion.
Interestingly, there are differing levels of stringency associated with the three prohibitions. Contact with a corpse and shaving the head are considered more serious violations than consuming grape products because they invalidate the entire period of the nazir vow. As for consuming grape products, there is no allowance at all, but shaving can be permitted for a mitzvah, such as in the case of a leper. And becoming impure is permitted for a met mitzvah – a corpse with no one else to bury it.
The text also explores the specific cases where a nazir must remain pure, even from close relatives. Numbers 6:7 states: “For his father and for his mother […he shall not become impure].” Rabbi Yishmael explains that the phrase "lo yavo" (he shall not approach) refers to those who become impure through entering the same space as a corpse. The verse specifies "for his father" to emphasize that, unlike a regular priest who is allowed to become impure for close relatives, the nazir is not.
Why then mention "and for his mother"? Rabbi says that this teaches us that "upon their deaths he may not become impure, but for their leprosy or for their ziva" (a ritual impurity described in Leviticus 15) he may become impure. This subtle distinction highlights the complexity of Jewish law and the importance of careful textual interpretation.
Rabbi Akiva offers a different perspective, suggesting that the term nefesh (soul) refers to those who are unrelated, while met (dead) refers to relatives. This interpretation further refines our understanding of the nazir's obligations.
The passage concludes by emphasizing that while the nazir must avoid impurity even for close relatives, they are permitted to become impure for a met mitzvah. They can attend the eulogy and comfort the mourners. All of this stands in contrast to the High Priest, who must avoid these situations altogether. The final verse reminds us that "For the crown of his God is on his head,” to relate what is the cause.
So, what does all this mean for us today? Perhaps it's a reminder that even seemingly small acts of self-discipline and dedication can have a profound impact, elevating us closer to the Divine. And that, my friends, is something worth pondering.