Julian Ungar-Sargon

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  • Home
  • Theological Essays
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  • Deep Dive Ditty
  • Videos
  • Publications
  • Military Service
  • Dominican University
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Daf Ditty

A wide-ranging commentary on the daily page of Talmud.

Nazir 61: (?Gentile Parents)

jyungar March 25, 2023

For the source text click/tap here: Nazir 61

To download, click/tap here: PDF

The Torah specifically says that both men and women can become nezirim (see Bamidbar 6:2). The first Mishna in the ninth perek of Massekhet Nazir teaches that non-Jews (Canaanites) cannot become nezirim, although avadim – non-Jews who are slaves and owned by Jews – can, theoretically, accept nezirut upon themselves.

On our daf, we find that a nonJew is not commanded to honor his father. Rashi explains that non-Jews don’t have halachic fathers. But for Jews it is important to recall that the Yerushalmi calls the mitzvah of Kibud Av the weightiest of all mitzvos!

We explore the command as it applies to gentiles especially referencing the biblical model of kibud Av…that of Eisav.

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Julian Ungar-Sargon

This is Julian Ungar-Sargon's personal website. It contains poems, essays, and podcasts for the spiritual seeker and interdisciplinary aficionado.​