Parsha Corner: Parshas Naso – From Sotah to Nazir
A Message of Appreciation and Reflection on Shavuos
I want to begin by expressing heartfelt appreciation to everyone who played a role in making this past Shavuos so deeply Toradik and inspiring. It was a tremendous Kiddush Hashem—a powerful demonstration of our collective love for Hashem and His Torah. I felt a special feeling in the air—that we were all genuinely happy to be using our shul for learning. It felt like this is where we belonged, where we wanted to be, and exactly what we want to see happening in our shul. I find myself constantly replaying the images in my mind: teens and youth learning with genuine passion, and members of our shul perched on the edge of their seats, eagerly soaking up every word of Torah. We must take a moment to appreciate what we experienced—and challenge ourselves to recreate that atmosphere on a nightly basis.
Parshas Naso – From Sotah to Nazir
In this week’s Parsha, the Torah presents the laws of the Sotah—a woman suspected of disloyalty—immediately followed by the laws of the Nazir, one who voluntarily abstains from wine and grape products. The Ralbag explains that this juxtaposition is intentional. It teaches us that true peace in the home, which was lacking in the case of the Sotah, is achieved through restraint and self-control.
The Baalei Mussar take this a step further. They explain that when a person is overly focused on themselves, their spouse will inevitably feel neglected or hurt, leading to emotional distance—and potentially even a breakdown in trust. But if one learns the art of abstaining—practically, putting their own needs second and prioritizing their spouse’s—then love, connection, and Shalom Bayis naturally follow. A relationship built on selflessness leaves no void that needs to be filled elsewhere.
The Baalei Mussar also highlight a critical insight: we are obligated to be inspired by our surroundings. The very fact that the sight of the Sotah is meant to stir someone to become a Nazir shows that Torah expects us to take personal responsibility for our spiritual growth in response to what we see. When we witness the consequences of spiritual failure—or, as we did over Shavuos, the beauty of spiritual elevation—it should move us to make meaningful changes in our own lives.
May we take these lessons to heart, and may we all be zocheh to build homes where the Shechinah can truly dwell.
– Rabbi Anton