Daily Daf Differently: Masechet Nazir

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Mordecai Schwartz looks at Masechet Nazir, Daf 15. What do we do when the values between two of our commitments conflict? To view the text of Nazir, Daf 15 on Sefaria, please click here. The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros from […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Mordecai Schwartz looks at Masechet Nazir, Daf 14. In today’s episode we ask how can a person fulfill two obligations at the same time? To view the text of Nazir, Daf 14 on Sefaria, please click here. The opening and closing music for this podcast […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Mordecai Schwartz looks at Masechet Nazir, Daf 13. What is the obligation to fulfill a Nazir’s vow, if it was made in a moment of bargaining for the life or health of a child?” To view the text of Nazir, Daf 13 on Sefaria, please […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Mordecai Schwartz looks at Masechet Nazir, Daf 12. A meditation on the limits of language and knowledge when we depend on others. To view the text of Nazir, Daf 12 on Sefaria, please click here. The opening and closing music for this podcast is Ufros […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Mordecai Schwartz looks at Masechet Nazir, Daf 11. When someone makes a vow in order to prevent others from forcing them into an action, does that vow have validity? In other words if I make a vow to avoid peer pressure do I remain accountable […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Mordecai Schwartz looks at Masechet Nazir, Daf 10. What are the limits of frustration as an explanation for extreme statements? If a person makes a Nazarite vow under the stress of frustration does that vow have validity? To view the text of Nazir, Daf 10 […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Rabbi Mordecai Schwartz looks at Masechet Nazir, Daf 9. Can an individual modify the Nazarite vow to fit their personal preferences? We will look at the limits for individuals altering religious ritual described in the Torah. To view the text of Nazir, Daf 9 on Sefaria, […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Joe Rosenstein looks at Masechet Nazir, Daf 8. Yesterday’s daf focused on the implications of the person’s vow on the length of his or her n’zirut if the vow mentioned duration. Today’s daf focuses on the implications of the person’s vow if it specifies the n’zirut […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Joe Rosenstein looks at Masechet Nazir, Daf 7. Although Chapter 1 of Tractate Nazir has led us in many interesting directions, we have to remember that the internal theme of the chapter is on the implications of the specific language of the vow on the person’s […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Joe Rosenstein looks at Masechet Nazir, Daf 6. The ceremony at the end of the nazir’s term is called “hitgalachat” because that is when his or her hair is cut (galach). Daf 6 focuses on the question of when hitgalachat takes place. If the term of […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Joe Rosenstein looks at Masechet Nazir, Daf 5. Today’s daf is focused on a Mishnah that states that if a person vows to be a nazir without setting a specific time limit, then the term of his or her n’zirut is 30 days. This term is […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Joe Rosenstein looks at Masechet Nazir, Daf 4. Today’s daf focuses on a vow to be a nazir like Samson and a vow to be a nazir for life; neither of these corresponds to the nazir described in Bamidbar (Numbers) since that nazir has a fixed […]

Welcome to the Daily Daf Differently. In this episode, Joe Rosenstein looks at Masechet Nazir, Daf 3. Following up on a question in the previous daf, this episode discusses the question of why the nazir might be considered a sinner? This leads us to discuss the ceremony at the end of a period of n’zirut […]

The first chapter of Tractate Nazir focuses on the implications of the actual statement made by a person on whether and for how long he or she becomes a nazir. We begin today’s episode, dealing with the first page of Tractate Nazir, with a description of the three prohibitions of the nazir in Bamidbar (Numbers). A nazir is a person who vows not to partake of the fruit of the vine, not to be in contact with a corpse, and not to cut his or her hair. The episode continues with a discussion of the various perceptions of the nazir, and a set of questions that will be discussed in the first seven episodes of Tractate Nazir, including, Is there any link between the three prohibitions? Why would a person choose to be a nazir? What role did the nazir have in society? Was the nazir regarded favorably or unfavorable in Jewish history? The first Mishnah of the tractate includes a number of euphemisms and abbreviations that would make a person a nazir, including one that provokes the question in the gemara of whethe