Mitzvah —
221
He must not eat raisins
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מִיַּ֤יִן וְשֵׁכָר֙ יַזִּ֔יר חֹ֥מֶץ יַ֛יִן וְחֹ֥מֶץ שֵׁכָ֖ר לֹ֣א יִשְׁתֶּ֑ה וְכׇל־מִשְׁרַ֤ת עֲנָבִים֙ לֹ֣א יִשְׁתֶּ֔ה וַעֲנָבִ֛ים לַחִ֥ים וִיבֵשִׁ֖ים לֹ֥א יֹאכֵֽל׃ - פָּרָשַׁת נָשׂא
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Numbers 6:3 - "He shall abstain from new wine and aged wine; he shall not drink [even] vinegar made from new wine or aged wine, nor shall he drink anything in which grapes have been steeped, and he shall eat neither fresh grapes nor dried ones."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Holiness – קְדוּשָּׁה
A Nazir is forbidden from eating raisins (dried grapes) during the time of his vow.
This mitzvah prohibits the Nazir from eating dried grapes, extending his restrictions beyond wine and fresh grapes to include all forms of the fruit. Even in its dried and concentrated form, the grape remains forbidden.
By abstaining from raisins, the Nazir demonstrates total separation from grape products, guarding the sanctity of his vow and ensuring that even indirect indulgences are avoided.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Nezirut 5:1): Lists raisins alongside wine and fresh grapes as forbidden to the Nazir.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 370): The root is to train the Nazir in complete abstinence, ensuring he avoids both obvious and subtle forms of indulgence.
- Talmud (Nazir 34b): Includes raisins in the Nazir’s prohibitions, noting that the Torah intends a comprehensive ban on all grape products.
- Rashi (Numbers 6:4): Explains that the Torah’s phrase “from seeds even to skins” encompasses every form of grape consumption, including dried fruit.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
Applying this Mitzvah Today
Notes on this Mitzvah's Fundamentals
Faith – אֱמוּנָה
- Rambam (Hilchot Nezirut 5:1) includes raisins as part of the Nazir’s restrictions. Faith is shown by obeying Hashem’s word even in details that seem minor, trusting the Divine wisdom behind them.
Reverence – יִרְאַת שָׁמַיִם
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 370) teaches that abstaining from raisins, like other grape products, cultivates reverence. By avoiding even less intoxicating forms, the Nazir reinforces awe for the boundaries Hashem set.
Holiness – קְדֻשָּׁה
- Talmud (Nazir 34b) emphasizes that the Nazir’s kedushah is comprehensive, covering wine, grapes, and raisins alike. This teaches that holiness requires consistency across all areas of life.
Nazir – נָזִיר
- Rambam describes raisins as part of the Nazir’s identity of abstinence. His lifestyle is not partial but total, marking him as wholly consecrated.
Kashrut – כַּשְׁרוּת
- Raisins are normally kosher and permissible, but for the Nazir they become forbidden. This shows how kedushah can elevate dietary law, restricting even foods that are otherwise pure.
Speech – דָּבָר
- The Nazir’s abstinence from raisins, like all his restrictions, flows from his words of vow. The mitzvah highlights how speech sanctifies ordinary foods by binding them with prohibition.
Vows / Oaths – נְדָרִים / שְׁבוּעוֹת
- Sefer HaChinuch notes that this mitzvah illustrates the far-reaching power of vows: a Nazir’s spoken declaration creates halachic boundaries that extend to every form of grapes.
Community – קְהִלָּה
- Rashi (Numbers 6:4) explains that the prohibition covers all grape products, including raisins. This makes the Nazir’s separation visible in daily communal eating, reminding others of his special status.
Bein Adam L’Makom (between a person and G-d)
- The mitzvah is a direct expression of separation to Hashem. By refraining even from dried grapes, the Nazir shows that his consecration to G-d is complete and uncompromising.
