7th June 2025 – Dr Puya Afshar
️ Parashat Summary
Parashat Nasso is the longest Torah portion in the entire Torah. Congratulation for surviving it! Within this long Parasha are some short, powerful lessons.
We get a mix of topics: the duties of the Levites, laws of ritual purity, the Sotah (suspected adulteress), the Nazir, and the famous Birkat Kohanim – the Priestly Blessing.
Let’s meet just two characters: the Nazir and the Kohen.
✂️ The Nazir – A Holy Hippie?
The Nazir takes a vow to separate from parts of life: they don’t drink wine, don’t cut their hair, and avoid contact with death. They’re basically the Torah’s spiritual hippie.
But here’s the twist: when the Nazirite vow ends, the Torah says they must bring a sin-offering.
Wait – what? You try to be holy, elevate yourself, get off social media and red wine for a month – and that’s a sin? What’s gone wrong here?
Ramban says the Nazir’s intentions were noble – he wanted to purify himself in a world full of distraction. Others, like Rabbi Sacks, say the Nazir represents the eternal human desire to break free from superficiality.
But the Torah doesn’t idealise this lifestyle. Because in Judaism, we don’t become holy by withdrawing from life — but by engaging with it and lifting it higher. Holiness is not found in the monastery. It’s found in the messy, beautiful business of daily life: raising children, being honest in work, caring for others, dealing with your in-laws… and of course your inbox.
The Nazir may have meant well. But perhaps the sin was avoiding the harder work – of being fully present in an imperfect world.
✨ The Kohanim – Blessing with Open Hands
Then we have the Kohanim. They don’t withdraw — they bless: “May Hashem bless you and guard you. May His face shine upon you and grant you peace.”
Fifteen words. That’s all. But within them is a quiet revolution.
The Midrash and the Zohar say that when the Kohanim lift their hands to bless, it’s as if G-d Himself is blessing us through them.
And perhaps that’s why this blessing follows the Nazir. To remind us: even if we struggle to find balance, even if we’re still figuring it out, Hashem still shines His face upon us. We don’t need to be perfect to be blessed. We just need to show up.
Our Modern Struggle
We live in a world of extremes.
Some people shut themselves off – spiritually, emotionally, even politically. Others throw themselves into everything, no boundaries, no rest.
The Torah offers a third path – a challenge: Can you be holy without disappearing? Can you stay grounded in a complicated world, and still walk with purpose?
That’s what Judaism asks of us. Not sainthood. Not silence. But presence with intention.
To parent even when you’re tired. To be ethical when it’s not profitable. To make space for the sacred in the everyday.
A Blessing to Take Home
So, here’s a small challenge for the week ahead:
Don’t take a Nazirite vow. No need to give up wine or your barber! But maybe… try blessing your children on Friday night with the Birkat Kohanim.
Maybe set your phone aside at dinner and just listen.
Maybe choose one part of life that feels ordinary – and bring holiness into it.
That is the Jewish way. Not to flee the world, but to transform it — from the inside out.
May Hashem bless you and protect you. May He shine His face upon you. And may He grant you peace.
Shabbat Shalom.