Likutei Ohr: A Publication of YULA Boys High School
Likutei Ohr: A Publication of YULA Boys High School
Max Glass
Likutei Ohr
Volume V : Issue XI
Editor-in-Chief:
Jesse Hyman 16
Senior Editor:
Jack Levkowitz 17
Pinchas Gamzo 17
Managing Editors:
Noam Gershov 17
Gidon Amsellem 18
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Marketing:
Yosef Hier 16
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Distributors:
Layout Editor:
Eitan Tennenbaum 17
Shayan Kohanteb 16
Eli Friedman 15
Jordan Lustman 15
Ilan Atri 15
Nathan Silberberg 16
Staff Advisor:
Rabbi Arye Sufrin
The Flame of
Our
Ancestors
- Shabbat 56b
Tefillah Gems
Yosef Petlak 17
Parshat Naso
Sotah-Nazir Connection
Gidon Amsellem 18
Parshat Naso has two integral topics that it speaks about: Sotah and Nezirut. Sotah
is a very specific case in which a husband accuses his wife of being disloyal to him.
However, there are no witnesses to back up his statements. Since this is such an
important matter, and we cannot allow a marriage to end because of a suspicion, we
leave the verdict to G-d. The Kohen proceeds to perform a ritual where he prepares
special water for the woman to drink. If the woman was disloyal her stomach will swell,
and she will die. However, if her husbands accusations were false, she has a child.
Naso also introduces the concept of Nezirut. Nezirut is taken upon a person to
strengthen his moral value. A Nazir does not cut his hair, cannot become impure (i.e.
through a dead body), or eat/drink any product of grapes for a specific amount of time
that he designates when accepting Nezirut. A Nazir would often take these prohibitions
upon himself if he noticed that he was behaving immorally and wished to fix himself. By
not cutting his hair or eating/drinking grape products, he shows that he is not focused
on his physical looks or desires. This fixes his immorality and brings him closer to G-d.
What is the connection between these two central topics of Parshat Naso?
The Haftorah this week is about the great warrior, Shimshon. Shimshon was
famous for being a Nazir from birth and possessing superhuman strength. He used that
strength to fight the Philistines and as a Shofet (judge) over Bnei Yisrael. Shimshon saw a
Phillistine woman and married her. Their marriage ended up being ruined through
people that Shimshon had made a bet with. Later, he saw a woman named Delilah and
married her. Despite his great strength, Shimshon had one weakness that led to his
downfall. His Nezirut gave him a special connection with G-d that fueled his strength. If
he in any way broke his Nezirut he would lose his strength. Delilah was bribed by the
Philistines to find that weakness. When she finally did, she exploited it (cutting his hair),
allowing his capture. Shimshon died heroically when he destroyed a building that he
was held captive in, killing him and many of the Philistines.
Although his physical weakness was that he could not cut his hair. Shimshons
moral weakness was the one that led to his downfall. Shimshon was unable to control his
desire for women. The Pasuk repeats the same phrase numerous times: Vayar IshahAnd he saw a woman (Shoftim 14:1 and 15:1). If Shimshon could have curbed his
immoral desire, the Philistines never would have captured him. This was his actual
weakness.
This is the connection between Sotah and Nezirut. A wife that has been immoral
and disloyal to her husband dies. Shimshon also died because of his immoral desire.
Shimshon missed the point of Nezirut. Nezirut is about fixing yourself, not just about the
abstinences that come along with it. G-d juxtaposed these two topics to show the
seriousness of immorality. Like a Nazir we should try to be aware of our actions in order
to fix those that are improper. Also, we should take the lesson of Shimshon to heart. We
should remember to never miss the point when following G-ds commandments
One of the most popular chapters of Tehillim is Shema Koleinu. The author of this Tefillah begins by writing, "From the
depths, I have called out to You, Hashem" (Psalms 130:1). In Gemara Berachot (10b), a question arises concerning the
meaning of these depths mentioned in the first verse of this special prayer. One explanation of the depths given is that during
Talmudic times, the Chazan would stand on a lowered platform. The reason for this was to show the Chazan how to pray,
which is in a state of humility without any feelings of haughtiness. Rav Kook provides a second explanation for the word
MeMa'amakim, "from the depths. From the plural use of the word, he explains that there are two depths discussed in this
Tehillim. The first depth teaches that we must lower our supposedly high spiritual feeling during Davening in order to become
more aware of the spiritual growth we can experience. Secondly, we must deepen our insight while Davening in order to fully
realize the worlds as well as Klal Yisraels needs, for they are integral to our existence and survival.
Halachic Illuminations
Josh Resin 16
In Parshat Naso, we learn all the details of the procedure that is to be carried out when a womans husband accuses her of
committing adultery in a case where no witnesses were present. The Sotah is given the choice of either accepting a divorce or being
required to pass an unusual test. The test includes having her drink bitter waters, which has Hashems name erased into it. If she
is guilty, she will die immediately upon consuming the water, if she is innocent the waters will be beneficial for her and she will
become pregnant and give birth to healthy children. At first glance, this strange mitzvah seems degrading to women, requiring the
Sotah to go through a humiliating experience, but a closer look reveals just the opposite. The Gemara in Sotah explains that both the
husband and wife are equally and identically affected by the bitter water, meaning that both are examined at the time she drinks
it. If she is innocent the husband will feel more humiliated than the woman for wrongly accusing her of adultery; and if she is
guilty she dies. Furthermore, the woman is not even forced to go through this process or admit anything at all; she can simply
accept a divorce and go marry someone else, no questions asked. Ramban explains that the mitzvah of Sotah, unlike all other
Mitzvot, requires G-ds hand to make a miracle in order for the procedure to work. Generally, HaKadosh Baruch Hu remains
concealed to allow us the privilege of free will, for if G-d was always so obviously revealed, we would never make mistakes and
therefore not have the true power of choice. However, given His deep love and concern for the purity and holiness of a Jewish
marriage, He exposes Himself through the fate of the Sotah and makes His involvement in every minuscule detail of our lives
obvious for all to see. Only through this seemingly undignified exercise does the Jewish woman have the ability to bring about this
revelation of G-ds hand in our lives and demonstrate Hashems love for all of His people.
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