» to rah

por tion

Finding
Deeper
Meaning

Parshat Naso: Numbers 4:21-7:89;
Judges 13:2-13:25.

W

hen you’re walking down- than relevant. Though gender equality
town and see a person
is rare in the Torah, the concept appears
who appears to be home-
before our eyes in parshat Naso.
less, your likely instinct is to ignore the
Not only are men and women treated
person and quickly walk by. But from
equally here, but the Hebrew words for
time to time, you might stop for a min-
man and woman sound remarkably simi-
ute to talk. When you do, you likely dis-
lar — ish and ishah. The Book of Genesis
cover, if only for a moment, that there is
indicates that a woman is called ishah
a real person beneath the exter-
because the first woman came
nal surface of homelessness.
from (the rib of) ish, a man.
There is a similar phenom-
However, an examination
enon when you find yourself
of the Brown Driver Briggs
“face-to-face” with a strange
Hebrew and English Lexicon
section of Torah. The reader
(affectionately known as the
might first be tempted to ignore
BDB) reveals that as much
the text and skip ahead to
as the words for “man” and
something “more interesting”
“woman” appear similar, they
Rabbi Elliot
or “relevant.” As when stop-
stem from different roots. So
ping to chat with a stranger on Pachter
we find evidence of both gender
a downtown street, your close
equality and inequality in the
look at what first appeared to be an
same pair of words. This deeper look at
incomprehensible section of Torah can
a mere three words of Torah reveals an
lead to valuable life lessons.
ambivalence that is most modern, as we
One of these seemingly unapproach-
daily continue to explore issues of gender.
able texts is found in p arshat Naso. It is
The Nazirite teaches another relevant
the description of the Nazirite (Numbers
lesson via the abstinence from certain
6:1-21), one who vows to abstain from
foods and behaviors. This self-discipline is
wine and grape products, and from cut-
a cornerstone of traditional Judaism, cer-
ting one’s hair. In addition to taking on
tainly to those who keep kosher, refrain
these restrictions, the Nazirite aims to
from prohibited activities on Shabbat and,
draw closer to God by living apart from
in general, observe the mitzvot.
the community. In modern Hebrew, the
Even beyond the scope of Judaism, all
Nazirite, or Nazir, is best understood as
who work hard to abstain — from alco-
a monk.
hol, unhealthful or allergenic foods, etc.
Though we have trouble identifying
— can find inspiration in the Nazirite.
with the Nazirite, and typically don’t
As you approach the text of the
intend to become one ourselves, there
Nazirite with a newly discovered open
is much to be learned when we allow
mind to see beyond the strange and,
ourselves to examine the words of this
instead, discover deeper meaning, use
chapter.
this same approach with all that you read
First of all, this brief section of Torah
— and while you’re at it, with all people
contains a treasury of biblical Hebrew
you encounter.
grammar. Students of Hebrew will find
Elliot Pachter is director of student services at
examples of almost every one of the
Frankel Jewish Academy and rabbi of Congregation
binyanim (verb constructs), including
B'nai Moshe, both in West Bloomfield.
active, passive, intensive, causative and
reflexive. The student will enjoy the
opportunity to identify word roots, both
CONVERSATIONS
simple and complex, including words in
• Discuss the phrase, “You can’t judge
which a root letter has disappeared. And
a book by its cover.”
the grammar leads to deeper meaning.
• How does the length and appear-
For example, we are taught that a
ance of a person’s hair impact our
Nazirite can be ish o ishah, man or
regard for that person?
woman. Right away, we see that an
• What challenges would one face as
apparently “out of date” story is more
a Jew who abstains from wine and
grape products?

*

Marshall N. Cyrlin, M.D.

Glaucoma and Cataract Consultation
medical, laser, surgical therapy

Graduate:
Washington University School of Medicine,
St. Louis, MO
Internship:
Washington University, Barnes Jewish Hospital,
St. Louis, MO
Residency:
University of Illinois, Ill. Eye and Ear Infirmary,
Chicago, IL
Glaucoma Fellowship:
Harvard University, Mass. Eye and Ear Infirmary,
Boston, MA

Board Certified:
American Board of Ophthalmology
Member:
American Academy of Ophthalmology
Charter Member: American Glaucoma Society
Member:
American Society of Cataract
and Refractive Surgery

Attending Staff:
Sinai Huron Valley Hospital,
Commerce Township, MI
William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI

Dr. Cyrlin proudly announces the relocation
of his practice to Wayne State University
Physicians Group, Kresge Eye Institute at its
newly opened facility located at

26400 West 12 Mile Road, Suite 60
Southfield, MI 48034
248 263-2640

Appointments welcomed for new,
existing and former patients

June 16 • 2016

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