Parshat Naso 5780
Rabbi Jablinowitz
We read in this week’s parsha about the Nazir. When the Torah mentions him, it says (Chapter 6, Pasuk 8), Kol Yemei Nizro Kadosh Hu L’Hashem. The Nazir is referred to as holy. The Ramban explains that his holiness is due to his refraining from the physical pleasure of drinking wine and raising himself up to a higher level of Avodas Hashem. He explains further that this status is also expressed by his bringing a sin offering, a Karban Chatas, at the end of his period of being a Nazir. The Navi says (Amos, Chapter 2, Pasuk 11), V’Akim M’Bneichem L’Nevi’im U’M’Bachureichem L’Nazirim. The Nazir is compared to a Navi and therefore should remain this way forever. Since the Nazir is ending his period of abstinence and returning to a life of pleasure, albeit permitted, he must bring a sin offering as an acknowledgement of moving to a lower level.
The Meshech Chachmah expands on this idea and says that when the Torah teaches us Kadosh Hu L’Hashem it is telling us about the essence of who the Nazir is. His acts of holiness effect a fundamental change in him and he becomes a different being. The best illustration of this is the Halacha of a Nazir accidentally become tameh. The Torah teaches us (Chapter 6, Pasuk 9), V’Chi Yamus Meis Alav B’Phesa Pisom, If a person would suddenly die in the presence of the Nazir he becomes tameh. As Rashi explains, the Torah is dealing with a situation which is totally beyond his control. If so, why does he become tameh?
The Meshech Chachmah compares his case to that of the Kohen Gadol. The Mishnah in Makos 11A teaches that the mother of the Kohen Gadol would bring food for the murderers in the cities of refuge so that they shouldn’t pray for the death of her son. This is because the death of the Kohen Gadol would allow all those who murdered B’Shogeg and were confined to cities of refuge, to go free. The Gemarah asks, this seems to imply that were they to pray for the death of the Kohen Gadol, their prayers would be answered. This is difficult because the pasuk in Mishlei (Chapter 26, Pasuk 2) Kein Kilalas Chinam Lo Tavo, seems to indicate that baseless curses have no effect. Therefore, there should have been nothing to worry about. Why did the Kohen Gadol’s mother need to take such precautionary measures?
The Gemara answers that prayers for the death of the Kohen Gadol would not have been considered baseless curses. This is because, “She’Hayah Lahen Levakesh Rachamim Al Doran V’Lo Bikshu”. The Kohen Gadol has a communal responsibility to pray for the well-being of the Clal. When murders are committed, even when done unintentionally, it reflects a lack of effort on the part of the Kohen Gadol to protect the Tzibbur. Therefore, would one of the unintentional murderers pray for the death of the Kohen Gadol, there might be some basis for his prayer. They might even be answered. Therefore, the Kohen Gadol’s mother took the precaution of appeasing the members of the cities of refuge.
The same thing is true with the Nazir. As we mentioned above, there is a fundamental change in his essence. And this change carries with it a tremendous responsibility. If someone dies suddenly in the same room with him, though clearly beyond his control, it indicates something lacking in him and requires the atonement of a Karban Chatas. This is the common bond between the Kohen Gadol and the Nazir. And an indication of this is that the Torah refers to the Nazir as (Chapter 6, Pasuk 7) Neizer Elokav Al Rosho, and regarding the Kohen Gadol we read (Parshat Emor, Chapter 21, Pasuk 12), Ki Neizer Shemen Mishchas Elokav Alav. Both have this crown of holiness which makes them responsible for things which are normally considered beyond one’s control.
The Gemara in Makos 11A recounts a story with Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi, who was known to have been visited by Eliyahu HaNavi. Once a man was attacked and killed by a lion three parsa’ot from Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi, and Eliyahu HaNavi wouldn’t speak to him after that for three days. This indicates a certain responsibility that Eliyahu HaNavi felt Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Levi had as a result of the person being killed, despite his death coming in a classic example of Ones. The Tzaddik is responsible for anything which occurs in his domain. And when one becomes a Nazir, he takes on this characteristic. As the Ramban states he becomes similar to a Navi, or as Meshech Chachmah indicates more like a Kohen Gadol. And as Chazal indicate to us, this responsibility lies in his ability to pray on behalf of the community. So that when tragedy befalls the community, though in a manner of Ones, we say She’Hayah Lahen Levakesh Rachamim Al Doran V’Lo Bikshu.
Good Shabbos
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