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Parshas Nasso – Arrogance: A State of Delusion

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The Gemerah explains that Rebbe Shimon Hatzadik never ate from such a korbon that a Nazir brought, because he was afraid that the Nazirs intentions weren’t pure, and the korbon might be invalidated.

Parshas Nasso

A man or a woman who separates themselves as a Nazir to HASHEM…Bamidbar 6:2

With these words the Torah begins the parsha of Nazir. A Nazir is one who in order to distance himself from sin will separate from worldly pleasures and dedicate himself for a given time exclusively to serving HASHEM. because he is now in a state of holiness, he must not cut his hair, drink wine or become spiritually impure. If he does become spiritually impure during this time, he must bring a sacrifice of atonement.

The Gemerah explains that Rebbe Shimon Hatzadik never ate from such a korbon that a Nazir brought, because he was afraid that the Nazirs intentions weren’t pure, and the korbon might be invalidated.

Gemerah Nazir 9b

Rebbe Shimon HaTzadik said all of my life I never ate from the Korbon that Nazir brought. One day a nazir came from the south and I saw that he was extremely handsome, with beautiful eyes, and long flowing hair. I said to him, “My son, why do you wish to destroy your beautiful hair? He said to me, “I was a shepard working for my father, one day I went to fill the water from the spring, I looked into my reflection in the water and my evil inclination grabbed me, and tried to fill me with arrogance. I said to him, ‘Wicked one, why are you being arrogant in a world that isn’t yours? In a body that will be filled with worm. I will shave you to serve HASHEM. Rebbe Shimon HaTzadik said, I kissed him on the head and I said to him, “My son, there should be many more nazirs like you in the Jewish nation.

The Maharsah explains that this Nazir was a Chacham

The man’s statement is difficult to understand: he said to himself, “Wicked one, why are you arrogant in a world that isn’t yours. Why does arrogance automatically make him wicked? And if arrogance is wicked, what difference does it make whether it is his world or HASHEM’s?

The answer to this question is based on understanding arrogance

The Chovos Halevovos (Shaar Hachnah) explains that the antidote to arrogance is to remember that I am human. The simple recognition that I am made of flesh and blood will dislodge the sense of superiority from my heart. The reason for this is that all arrogance is based on delusion. The delusion that I am powerful, the delusion that I am invinible and ultimately the delusion that I will live forever.

Arrogance is not a feeling of self worth, rather it is a false sense of invulerablity

A master needs a servant, and a servant needs a master

Arrogance is based on a state of delusion

Talent on loan from G-d

Taking credit for the attribute

To recognize one’s strengths isn’t arrogance.

Humility is pivotal towards our Avodas HASHEM

It is difficult to be humble when you are so great

In the common parlance we hear the expression it is

really it is easier- provided you recognize where those gifts come from. The Misilos Yesharim explains that more that I have, the more that I have been given—provided that I remember that I have been given all of this. The problem is that I take credit for it, in some sense I feel as if I were its creator.

This is an excerpt from the Shmuz on the Parsha book. All three volumes are available at your local sefarim store, or at www.theShmuz.com. All of the Shmuzin are available FREE of charge, at the theShmuz.com or on the Shmuz app, for Android and Iphone.

Rabbi Ben Tzion Shafier

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