30 May PARSHAS NASO: STRANGE VERBIAGE CONTAINS A BEAUTIFUL INSIGHT

Parshas Naso contains
within it the laws of the
Nazir. The Nazir is
prohibited from drinking
wine and consuming
grape products. He is not
allowed to cut his hair.
Finally, he is not allowed to come in contact
with the dead — even his immediate relatives.
A person theoretically becomes a nazir as a
means of abstaining from the passions of this
world. The person decides not to indulge in
certain normal worldly pleasures. Nazirus may
be thought of as a type of “spiritual diet” one
undertakes when he feels he is “too overweight”
with the temptations and indulgences of “olam
hazeh” [this world]. The nazir remains on this
diet until he feels he has things back under
control.
The Torah says that when the Nazir completes
his designated period of Nezirus, he must bring
a set of karbonos [sacrifices]. The pasuk [verse]
states “yavee oso el pesach Ohel Moed”. The
pasuk means to say that the nazir brings them to
the door of the Tent of Meeting. However,
literally the pasuk states “he brings HIM to the
door of the Tent of Meeting.” Rather than state
in a straightforward manner “yavo el Ohel
Moed” [he comes to the Tent of Meeting], the

Torah utilizes a strange syntax. Who is the
“him” referred to in the pasuk and what is the
message of this strange expression?
The Meshech Chochmah (Rav Meir Simcha of
Dvinsk) offers a beautiful idea: The Torah does
not offer any set time for the duration of
Nezirus. Although there is a law that Nezirus of
unspecified duration lasts 30 days, a person can
specify any length of time beyond 30 days up to
and including the concept of a “Nazir Olam”
[one who accepts being a Nazir for the rest of
his life]. What determines how long one’s
Nezirus will last? Rav Meir Simcha answers —
“however long the person thinks it will take him
to get back under control”.
Here again, it is like a diet. A person who
needs to lose 10 pounds may be able to do it in
4 weeks. If he needs to lose 25 pounds, it will
take much longer. Fifty pounds will take longer
than that. It all depends on how long one
expects it will take to arrive at the weight he
wishes to achieve. Nezirus also takes as much
time as is necessary for a person to reach the
spiritual point where he is in control of his
passions rather than his passions being in
control of him.
The goal of Nezirus is to reach the point
whereby one views the physical side of himself

as if he is a different person. For this reason, the
pasuk speaks of the Nazir “bringing HIM to the
door of the Tent of Meeting”. It is as if I am
speaking about myself in the third person.
“Him” is “me”. That “other person” within me
needs to have certain needs met, but “I” am in
control! When the Nezirus concludes, it is “I”
who brings “him” to the Ohel Moed, because
now “I” am in charge of “him.”
It Is Not So Simple To Utter The Priestly
Blessing
Parshas Naso also contains the Birkas Kohaim
[Priestly Blessing]. When the Kohanim finish
blessing the Jewish people, they recite a short
prayer that contains the words “Master of the
Universe we have done what You have decreed
upon us. You also do what you have promised
us. Look down from Your sacred dwelling,
from the heavens, and bless Your people Israel.”
Rav Matisyahu Solomon questions use of the
words “mah she’gazarta aleinu” [what You
have decreed upon us]. Gezeira usually
connotes a harsh decree. In what sense is the
command that the Kohanim bless the Jewish
people a decree? Birkas Kohanim is the greatest
thing! Why is it called a gezeira?
To answer the question Rav Matisyahu
Solomon points to the blessing recited by the

Kohanim PRIOR to blessing the people. “…
who has sanctified us with the holiness of Aaron
and has commanded us to bless His people
Israel with LOVE.” Not only are the Kohanim
commanded to bless the people, they are
commanded to do so with LOVE, with
graciousness, with generosity!
Guess what? That is a hard mitzvah. To bless
someone else that he should have all the
blessings in the world and to do it with love and
with graciousness is almost a super-human task.
It is certainly no easy matter to accomplish.
This Kohen, who may be healthy or may not
be healthy, who may be successful or may be
having a difficult time, is asked to bless others
who may already have more than he has, in a
heartfelt fashion, full of love and empathy! It is
not so simple at all.
When the Kohen finishes, he honestly
tells G-d: We have done that which you
DECREED upon us. We did it, but it was not
easy. Now, please You also do what you have
promised that you would do for us.