(2006/5766) Parshat Naso presents an array of laws, including those of
the Nazir. The Nazir can be any man who wishes to draw closer to
Hashem and attain a higher level of Kedushah. In order to maintain
this level of Kedushah, the Nazir is not permitted to drink wine, cut his
hair, or become Tamei Meit (impure through contact with a dead
body).
It is interesting to note that the Torah forbids the Nazir to
attend the funeral of his mother, father, or any of the seven family
members that a regular Kohen, who is also forbidden to become
Tamei Meit, is allowed to attend. This puts the Nazir on the level of
the Kohen Kadol, the high priest, demonstrating to Bnei Yisrael that
even if they are not from Sheivet Levi, they can still attain such high
levels of Kedushah.
This Kedushah comes at a price, however. The Torah states
that if someone dies suddenly in close proximity to the Nazir, he must
shave his head and bring several offerings, including a sin-offering, in
the Mishkan. His original Nezirut is nullified, and he must rededicate
himself, because “he sinned regarding the dead person.” This
expression is very puzzling; after all, it was not the Nazir’s fault that
the man died and made him Tamei! Why does the Torah say that the
Nazir sinned and obligate him to bring a sin-offering?
Perhaps the Torah is trying to show us that another attribute
of the Nazir is caring for the rest of Bnei Yisrael. As Chazal say, “Kol
Yisrael Areivim Zeh LaZeh,” all Jews are responsible for one another.
The similarity of the Nazir to the Kohen Gadol may indicate that the
Nazir should attempt to imitate Aharon, the Kohen Gadol in the desert
generation, who went to great lengths to restore peace between
quarreling Jews. Even though the Nazir who became Tamei did not
do anything actually wrong, he may have neglected to show the kind
of care that Aharon would have – to be constantly on the lookout for a
Jew in need of aid. Along with the rest of the elements of Kedushah
comes a requirement to look for ways to help others beyond the letter
of the law. In this sense, the Nazir did not fully keep to the standards
he attempted to set for himself (otherwise a Jew would not have died
suddenly in his presence), and hence must bring Korbanot to atone
for this slight “sin.”