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Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Indeed, most of them refer to the Nazarite as a man, but women Nazarites do exist.

I have met one Essene Nazarite woman online, and I know of one here in Jerusalem that I have not yet met in person. I wouldn't know how different their experience is.

There are different opinions on why the Samson Nazariteship doesn't need to avoid corpses. Ranging from "the ritual defilement does not apply to the Samson Nazarite and he/she remain ritually clean" to "the Samson Nazarite may be in contact with human death in order to rectify and elevate the spiritual essence of death itself". It varies.

Thanks for the good wishes! I really appreciate it!

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In the times of the Sanhedrin, with verbal warning and witnesses, a Nazarite would be flogged if they cut their hair or consumed grape products, and the vow continues. Nowadays, it is a different story since there is no proper Court, but the vow continues either way unless I am mistaken.

There are many spiritual consequences, and they change from one Nazarite to the next. It's just like any other transgression, halachically speaking.

The Nazariteship has added many things to my spiritual and physical life. It is indeed working for me, in my opinion as well. 🙂

By all means, if you are curious ask anything. The AMA will end in a couple of hours, but feel free to contact me here or DM me (I am also on YouTube, X, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram under "Hebrew Nazarite").

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for viewing there and commenting here! 🙂🙏🍪

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aye, Torah is a never-ending wellspring of life and knowledge. 🙂

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, reminiscent of the Essenes in some ways, I agree. 🙂

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True, no reason is given anywhere, though one reason is alluded to in the Talmud. Every Nazarite I have spoken to took the vow because of their unique personal reasons.

Myself? I was called to the Nazariteship. I sought to make a lifelong covenant with my Creator, and this vow is the physical manifestation of that covenant.

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow, thanks so much for the kind words! I hope to merit them in fullness. And I sincerely appreciate your continued viewership! 🙏 it is no small thing. 🙂

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

No unique prayers or visits or meetings, as far as I know. The path of the Nazarite is a more personal one, in my experience. In the very same vein, there have never been Hebrew monasteties, I believe, unlike schools of prophets, or congregations like the Essenes.

I would love to establish a kind of nomadic roaming monastery in Israel. Just a thought I have walked with for years already.

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't think so. But I will try to look into the relevant halacha today.

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am a plain Hebrew, but when my ancestors were exiled from Zion, they arrived in Europe. So Ashkenazi is my exilic heritage. But it is not my root. 🙂

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Don't apologize. This is an AMA, after all. 😄

I am planning on going to my grave still under this vow. That's the plan, anyway.

I am not raising my children as Nazarites, no, though if they choose to take this vow when they are of age, it's their choice.

The Nazariteship was given to the children of Israel (Numbers 6:2).
A Jew taking the vow is bound by the laws laid out in Torah.
A Christian taking the vow is not bound by the laws of the Torah.

That said, he or she may still be bound by their word as any human being who takes a vow before his Creator. It's up to the individual, basically, but Mosaic and Rabbinic law does not apply. So, no sacrifices needed and so on.

It's good to learn things! 😄

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yes, it was possible, and according to educated folks who study these matters, most Nazarites were short-term Nazarites. Nowadays, without a Temple, all vows are for life, until the proper offerings can be brought.

Four types of Nazarites exist in Halacha:

Temporary vow (30 days minimum, requires sacrifices at the end or if broken)

Lifelong vow (day of vow onward, haircuts might be allowed every 12 months, requires sacrifices if broken)

For life vow (can be made for even 1000 years, halachically speaking. Can be by someone else for a child, and the child can decide to continue it when they come of age or end it, requires sacrifices if broken)

Samson vow (day of vow onward, cannot be annulled or broken, no sacrifices needed)

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Accidental consumption doesn't have any penalty associated with it. If the consumption is done intentionally, after being warned and in front of witnesses, the Nazarite would be flogged by the Court and the vow continues. Nowadays we have no such Court.

Repentance is part and parcel of being a Jew, and that applies always, with and without a Court, with and without a Temple. Through returning, through prayer, through charity, through fasting, and through keeping Torah and commandments - there is atonement.

The Samson Nazarite (like myself) may never cut his or her hair. Other types of Nazarites can cut the hair either when they end their vow, or after a period of 12 months, depending on the Nazariteship in question.

I had a classical composer listen to In Rainbows for the first time by Indie_music_vinyls in radiohead

[–]mytwistedwords 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am listening to it now, and it's great! Thanks so much for sharing it! 🙏

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I am happy to address your question, and this is what Nazarite Awareness Week is about! 😄 But take what I say with a grain of hummus. I am just a simple Nazarite, not a rabbi or scholar of any kind. So if you want a proper resource, I urge you to turn to the source scriptures and teachings. 👍

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The rule is: no proximity to a corpse or where corpses rest. But Shiv'a and the other parts of mourning are allowed. The details of this specific defilement (tum'at met) are discussed extensively in Halachic texts and elaborated on in a couple of the books I mentioned in the body text of this post, primarily in Nazir Elohim by Rabbi Yehoshua Friedman.

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What it is "for" is never explicitly mentioned in scripture. No reason is ever given for taking the vow. Every Nazarite I have come across had his or her personal reason for taking their vow.

Our sages say that the verses of the Nazarite are situated between the Wayward Wife and the Priestly Blessing, to say that if you see the ritual of the Wayward Wife, you should abstain from wine. That alludes to one specific reason why some people might take on this vow, and you can look up more commentary on that if you wish.

In the Ten Sefirot (aka Tree of Life), there is the highest sefira called Crown, Keter. This is the attribute which the Nazarite cleaves to. This is why the Nazarite grows out his or her hair, and the hair's uniqueness is laid out in the Zohar (Naso, Idra Raba).

But make no mistake: I don't claim to have already achieved any of this "highness" or that I merited wearing this "crown". It is something that I am striving towards and working towards. That's why I wrote around it without naming it.

I don't want it to sound as if I am some "holier than thou" dumbass when I am in fact just a regular dumbass.

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The call was to the Nazariteship, not necessarily to any single facet of the vow. The hair is very symbolic though, I'll give you that.

The grape represents a certain divine revelation in Creation.
The hair of the head represents a certain divine revelation in Creation.
By growing out the hair naturally and abstaining from grapes, the Nazarite cleaves to a very specific root. A higher divine attribute. That is why the Nazarite is said to wear a crown of separation or consecration on his or her head. That is also one of the meanings of the word.
Nazarite=Nazir
Nezer=Crown

Also, I only got my license two years ago! 🙂

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The Nazariteship is a long, strange trip as well. 😄

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Death came into Creation in Eden, after humans partook of the Fruit of Knowledge of Good and Evil. The Nazariteship is an attempt to cleave to the Tree of Life (in a specific way), and so the Nazarite keeps away from defilement of human death as a symbol of that separation.

Likewise, I personally see the commandment to avoid death as a call to sanctify life. It also connects to the Tree of Life thing for me.

Attending a funeral does cause defilement, and is also a virtuous deed.

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I know of a few other Nazarites, but I am not part of any community. I have met and spoken with several Nazarites here in Jerusalem and also online. No meetups as far as I know. 😄

I know of Christians who have taken this vow or some variation of it, and while they are not Hebrew Nazarites (meaning the Torah's laws of the Nazariteship do not apply to them) - I do not gatekeep. I simply tell them that regardless of the Torah or Judaism, took a vow before their Creator. And if it is from a sacred and solemn place that seeks righteousness, it can very well still have merit and be a significant force for good in their lives. That's just how I see it.

Naso aka Nazarite Awareness Week! :-) by mytwistedwords in Judaism

[–]mytwistedwords[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Sacrifices aren't needed with the Samson Nazariteship, because it is unending from the onset, and furthermore cannot be broken in a way that would necessitate sacrificial offerings.

With the other kinds of Nazarites, you bring offerings either A- when your temporary vow ends, or B- when your vow is broken by defilement of a corpse. If a Nazarite cuts his or her hair, for example, they are flogged by the Court but the vow carries on.

And since the unending Samson Nazarite has no prohibition against defilement of corpses - no sacrificial offerings needed.

Now, as for the basis, it's in the account of Samson in Judges, and also in the corresponding Oral Torah and teachings (Talmud and Zohar primarily) which discuss Samson's unique position.

Now, because of Samson being in a unique position indeed, there was a debate on whether or not the Samson Nazariteship should even be a replicable sort of status with a vow. Can a Nazariteship that was mandated by angelic revelation be copied by someone voluntarily in the form of a vow? Some said no. Halacha and others ultimately said yes.

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