Parshas Nasso

Parshas Nasso discusses the case of a Sotah. A Sotah is a woman that was seemingly having suspicious forbidden relationships with other men (besides her husband). Her husband warns her about this matter and she was again seemingly having forbidden relationships with someone other than her husband - he then takes her to the Kohain (priest) and the Kohain brings a korban (offering) to Hashem on her behalf. The kohain also makes a Torah commanded drink or “potion”, so to speak. The Kohain erases Hashem’s name and put’s it into the “potion”. It is then given to the accused woman to drink. If she was innocent then she will be blessed with a child, but if she was guilty then her insides would in essence explode.

Right after discussing the halachos of a Sotah, the Torah talks about a Nazir. Someone who is a nazir can’t cut their hair/shave, eat or come in contact with grapes, and *some cannot come in contact with a deceased.

One becomes a nazir either by the word of Hashem or if one makes a sh’vuah (promise) on himself to be a nazir.

*Only those who make a sh’vuah to be a nazir can come in contact with a deceased.

Those picked to be a nazir by Hashem maintain that status their whole life unlike the other who only remains a nazir for thirty days. A nazir that was picked by Hashem is commonly referred to as a “Nazir Shimshon” because Shimshon (Sampson) was a nazir not by his will. 

Rabbeinu Shlomo Yitzchaki zt”l (a.k.a. Rashi) asks why did the Torah (or Hashem) make the halachos concerning a Sotah juxtaposed to the halachos concerning a Nazir? What is the connection?

Rashi answers by saying, after one learns about the halachos regarding a Sotah he is more likely to distance himself from alcohol and become a nazir (who is forbidden to drink wine) because intoxication is a common way to commit an avirah (sin) and one who witnesses the Koparah (attonement) for the Sotah is going to stay far away from those things that cause sin.

The Torah warns us that there is a connection between alcohol, gashmius (materialism), and infidelity. We can easily be driven by the lust of each of these to do something that is forbidden in the Torah and can ruin our lives.

May we all learn from this week’s Parsha to avoid doing avairos (sins) and distance ourselves from gashmius. May we all see the true light and yearn to be close to HaKadosh Borchu- Amen!

HAVE A GREAT SHABBOS AND WEEKEND!

Stay tuned for next week’s Parsha called, Parshas Beha’alosecha.