Thinking Torah Blog

A significant section of this week’s Torah portion, Nasso, focuses on the laws of the Nazarite. In ancient times, there were two types of Nazarites: those who were Nazarites from birth—think Samson—and those who took on Nazarite vows for a limited period. These temporary vows were often a way for someone to draw closer to God, to pursue a sense of holiness associated with the priesthood, or perhaps to atone for a particular sin. The practice came with various restrictions, but its ultimate goal was spiritual growth.

While people no longer take Nazarite vows, I still think it’s a meaningful framework for thinking about Jewish engagement today. Especially during traumatic times, turning inward and deepening our connection to identity can be a powerful source of healing.

It makes me deeply sad that just two weeks after the antisemitic murders in Washington, D.C., we are now facing another act of antisemitic violence—this time in Boulder, Colorado. I imagine that many emotions are swirling through our community about what’s happening in our country today. It’s a complicated and painful moment. Some of us may feel like hiding. Some of us may feel like fighting.

I find myself reacting differently.

When antisemites try to harm Jews for who we are and what we believe, my instinct is not to retreat, but to lean in, not in a radical way, but in a joyful way. These attacks make me want to deepen my Jewish life, not run from it. They make me want to seek holiness, not abandon my beliefs. I believe that the most powerful response we can offer in this moment is to embrace our Judaism more fully and lean into the richness of our tradition, our history of survival, our joy, and our deep love for who we are.