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 (rabbinic interpretive commentary) 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 (the evil inclination), 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.
“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). “All the days of the vow of his naziriteship, a razor…” – why did the Holy One blessed be He command the nazirite that he shall not shave the hair of his head? It is because shaving accentuates his features and beautifies him, just as they said regarding Joseph: “He shaved and changed his garments” (Genesis 41:14). Growing hair is for the purpose of suffering and mourning. That is why the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Since this nazirite prohibited wine for himself in order to distance himself from lewdness, let him grow his hair so he will be repulsive and suffer, so that the evil inclination will not accost him.’ “Until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord, he97This interpretation understands קדוש יהיה as “it (his hair) shall be holy.” shall be holy” – it shall be prohibited for him like consecrated items, that he may not touch it, because he consecrated it for the sake of Heaven. “All the days of the vow of his naziriteship” – his vow is contingent upon his naziriteship, but his naziriteship is not contingent upon his vow.98As stated above, regardless of the formulation of his vow, e.g., if he vowed to observe naziriteship for fewer than thirty days or for only some of the prohibitions, he is a full-fledged nazirite. “A razor shall not pass” – I have only a razor; from where is it derived regarding one who severs near the root, plucks, or trims, regardless of the amount? The verse states: “Shall not pass [yaavor] on his head,” to include all removers [hamaavirim]. Considering that ultimately we will include everything, why does the verse state: “Razor”? It is because we did not learn that the final shave is with a razor. To derive it from the leper is impossible, as one does not derive a lenient case from a stringent case,99A leper has to shave all of his hair when he becomes pure, a nazirite only shaves the hair on his head when he has completed his naziriteship. to be stringent in its regard.100If “razor” does not apply to the matter of the prohibition where it is written, apply it to the final shave. Rabbi Yosei says: It is not necessary, as it says: “A razor shall not pass on his head; until completion” – but after completion, the shave shall be with nothing other than a razor. Alternatively, if so, why is "razor" stated? It is to teach you that neither scissors nor shears voids his naziriteship; only a razor alone.101See Nazir 40a. “Until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord,” from where is it derived that if one said: ‘I am a nazirite,’ without specifying, he shaves on day thirty-one, but if he shaved on day thirty he did not fulfill his obligation? The verse states: “Until completion of the days that he will abstain for the Lord,” and the days of his naziriteship have not yet been completed. “He shall be holy,” this is the sanctity of the hair. “He shall be holy” – I can only conclude that if someone shaves in accordance with his mitzva, that his hair is prohibited.102It is forbidden to derive any benefit from the hair of a nazirite, see Mishna Kiddushin 2:9. If others shaved him, if he shaved before his time, or not in accordance with his mitzva, from where is it derived [that the hair is prohibited]? “It shall be holy,” in any case. Bar Pada said: Unspecified naziriteship is for thirty days, as it is stated: “He shall be holy [kadosh yihye].” The numerical value of yihye is thirty.103Yod – 10, heh – 5, yod – 10, heh – 5 = 30. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: Corresponding to the twenty-nine times that “vow [neder],” “nazirite [nazir],” “his naziriteship [nizro],” “he shall abstain [yazir],” and “to abstain [lehazir]” are written in the portion. But are they not thirty? Rabbi Yosei bar Bon said: One is for its novelty,104It is needed to teach the basic halakha. and is not included in the tally. According to the opinion of bar Pada, if he shaved on day thirty, he did not fulfill his obligation. According to the opinion of Rabbi Shmuel, if he shaved on day thirty, he fulfilled his obligation. Some seek to have us derive it from this: “The hair of his head shall grow long.” How much is considered hair growth? It is thirty days. And some seek to have us derive it from this: “Until completion [melot] of the days [hayamim].” How many are full [mele’im] days?105These are the number of days in a full month. Thirty days. Consequently, if he shaved on day thirty, he did not fulfill his obligation. Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Elazar said: Hayamim is written without a yod.106This indicates that it is the number of days in a month that is not full, i.e. twenty-nine. “Shall grow long,” to tell you that he is capable of growing hair long.107In thirty days. I have only one who has long hair; one who does not have long hair, from where do I derive it? “The hair of his head” – any amount. I can only conclude that he is prohibited from shaving until “completion of the days that he will abstain.” From where is it derived that he is prohibited from shaving until the bringing of the offering? The verse states: “Then the nazirite may drink wine” (Numbers 6:20). Does the nazirite drink wine? Rather, it is here108The word is mentioned in the verse. in order to derive and learn a verbal analogy from it. Here it is stated nazirite: “All the days of the vow of his naziriteship” (Numbers 6:5), and there109Numbers 6:20. nazirite is stated. Just as there it is prohibited to drink until the bringing of the offering, here, too, it is prohibited to shave until the bringing of the offering.
