Nazir - The Steinsaltz Talmud T19 (color), Biblieurope editions

The Talmud Steinsaltz T19

Nazir

Translated paragraph by paragraph
Commentary by Rabbi Adin Even-Israel Steinsaltz

Drahi Edition - Color

Biblieurope Editions

The new edition of the Steinsaltz Talmud in French aims, like the previous one, to give everyone, regardless of their level, access to the Talmudic text – originally written without punctuation or vowels, in a concise style, in a mixture of Hebrew and Aramaic, a language little known to most readers.

In the second half of the ^20th century, Rabbi Steinsaltz, of blessed memory, pioneered the work of publishing a punctuated and vocalized edition in Hebrew, and later in other languages. This edition presents the correspondence of each word of the Talmud in bold, with explanations added in regular type, essential for understanding each sentence and following the Gemara step by step.

In this edition, the text of the Talmud is divided into paragraphs, translated as they appear. It includes numerous studies and halakha taken from the Steinsaltz edition in Hebrew, summarizing the main commentaries and the conclusions of the decisors on each topic addressed. It is enriched new illustrations.

At the end of each book, it includes the original text of the treatise according to the classical Vilna edition, with the commentary of Rashi – which, here, is punctuated and vocalized – and that of the Tosafot, also punctuated.

We hope that this publication will achieve the goal that Rav Steinsaltz zal sought throughout his life: to enable every Jew to know and appreciate his ancestral heritage in order to strengthen the love of the Torah among the people.

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Nazir

Curiously, Nazir is included in the Talmudic section of Nashim—right after Nedarim and before Sota—although it is not directly related to it; moreover, the Gemara raises this very question from the outset. In fact, since the biblical passage concerning the Nazir (Numbers chapter 6) appears after that of the woman suspected of adultery [sota] (ibid. chapter 5), in the Mishnah as well, the tractate Nazir was placed next to that of Sota.

As its name suggests, it deals primarily with the laws relating to the Nazirite vow, but also with vows in general, sacrifices, and the rules of purity and impurity.

Taking the Nazirite vow commits the individual to respecting a number of rules established by the Torah. As with other vows, this one can be motivated by various reasons, such as obtaining forgiveness for a sin, expressing gratitude to God for His goodness, meriting divine favor, or even as an outlet for anger or frustration. When the motivations are praiseworthy, the Nazirite vow is considered a means of attaining a high level of holiness, as it is stated in the Torah: “All the days of his Nazirite vow he shall be holy to the Lord” (ibid. 6:8).

The term nazir refers to someone who abstains [mitnazer] from certain things. It also alludes to the nazir's long hair, comparable to a crown [nezer] (ibid. 6:7). Although the Torah does not forbid any person from becoming ritually impure or drinking wine, abstaining from these things allows one to attain a higher level of holiness. This can be inferred from the prohibition against entering the Temple courtyard after drinking wine or in a state of ritual impurity, and from the prohibition against Kohanim becoming ritually impure through contact with a dead person due to their inherent holiness. Committing to these prohibitions is tantamount to acquiring, for a time, a status equivalent to that of a Kohen (see Mishnah 47a).

Biblieurope Editions