Parshat Naso- Minimizing the Temptation
by Rabbi Lobel

(Numbers; Chapter 6, Verse 2-3) “Speak to the children of Israel... A man or a woman who shall take upon himself a Nazirite vow...anything which grapes have been steeped in he shall not drink.”

Of course, wine is permitted under Jewish law. A self proclaimed Nazir prohibits himself from various permitted actions including drinking any derivatives of grapes.

Rashi, on the verse, asks, “why were the laws of an adulteress, or adulterer, juxtaposed to the portion of a Nazir? To tell you that anyone who sees an adulteress in the state of disgrace (after she has been bared by the Kohen) should take upon himself to abstain from wine, for wine leads to adultery.”

There is a very important word in Rashi that cannot be overlooked: “Anyone.” Rashi says that “anyone who sees an adulteress in the state of disgrace” - even the holiest people who would never act in such a despicable manner of adultery.

The importance of learning from your fellow’s mistake is boundless. We can all fall in the same trap as our friend.

Sometimes our fellows just made a mistake – they placed themselves in a situation where the temptation to indulge was too strong. In life, there are constant challenges – we need to first try to avoid them or to minimize them, and lastly overcome them.

The key to trusting oneself is to be very vigilant of our situations. Sure, wine is permissible and sometimes a Mitzvah, however, one must drink responsibly.