Chazal discuss in many places the requirements of being a Nazir. Only a person who is on a high level and confident that he will be able to keep all the requirements of a Nazir is permitted to become a Nazir.
The parable is given of two neighbors. Both are poor and barely make ends meet. One is a lumberjack by trade, while the second one is a thief making his living by stealing. The lumberjack is able to marry off all his children while the thief can’t afford the dowry necessary and therefore his daughters are all single.
The thief approaches the lumberjack. We both know that we are both poor - both of us can barely afford to put food on the table. How is it that you can afford to marry off your children while I can’t?
The lumberjack explains - it is very simple. When my child is born I build myself a little box. I put a lock on the box. Every week I put a dollar into the box. By the time the child is ready for marriage, I open the box and have all the money I need.
The thief listened and answered. It works for you - it would never work for me. After all I am a thief. The minute I would need money I would break open the lock and empty the box. I would never be able to save money for a dowry in that way. After all, if I steal from others, I would surely steal from myself.
The Nimshal. A Tzadik - someone who observes the Torah and all the Mitzvahs, can add to the mitzvahs - become a Nazir - add restrictions and be expected to keep them. But a Rasha, someone who breaks the lock on the Torah itself, surely cannot be expected to keep the additional restriction of being a Nazir. That’s why Chaza"l limited to the Tzadikim the right to become a Nazir. (Rabbi Yakov Kranz - Dubno Magid)
Reprinted from this week’s email of R’ Yedidye Hirtenfeld’s whY I Matter parsha sheet.
