Nazir 61a

נזיר ס״א ע״א

Learn Nazir 61a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The four shavings of a נזיר who is a מצורע are a מצוה; a new chapter on who can become a נזיר (גוים, women, slaves) and the sources for it

Overview

The amud opens with רבי חייא's ברייתא. It teaches that a מצורע's shaving cannot count as a נזיר's shaving, because the two happen at opposite times: before or after immersion, and before or after the blood is sprinkled. Next, רמי בר חמא asks whether the משנה's four shavings are a מצוה, or only a way to clear away hair that grew in טומאה. The practical difference is whether a hair-removing paste (נשא) would work. רבא proves they are a מצוה, because if the goal were only hair removal, three shavings would be enough. The chapter שני נזירים ends, and a new משנה teaches that גוים cannot become נזירים, while women and slaves can. The משנה adds that a master can force his slave to break his נזירות, but a husband cannot force his wife. The גמרא finds the sources in a ברייתא: 'בני ישראל' leaves out גוים, and 'ואמרת אליהם' includes slaves. רבא explains that the extra words for slaves are needed because slaves are normally left out of vows. The גמרא then challenges the source for leaving out גוים, using the example of ערכין. It turns to the פסוק 'לאביו ולאמו לא יטמא' and tests what that פסוק teaches, and the discussion continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (19)

1. ProofThe shavings of a leper and a nazirite happen at different times
2. QuestionAre the four shavings a מצוה or just hair removal?
3. QuestionWhat practical difference does it make?
4. ResponseThe difference: using a hair-removing paste
5. Proofרבא's proof: three shavings would be enough
6. ConclusionConclusion: the shavings are a מצוה
7. ConclusionHadran — Closing the chapter of שני נזירים
8. StatementNew משנה: who can become a נזיר
9. QuestionAsking for the source that גוים have no נזירות
10. ResponseThe ברייתא: 'בני ישראל' leaves out גוים, 'אליהם' includes עבדים
11. ChallengeWhy is a פסוק needed to include slaves?
12. Resolutionרבא: slaves are left out of vows, so we needed the פסוק
13. ChallengeDoes the word 'Israel' always leave out gentiles? The case of valuations
14. ResolutionA different source: 'For his father and mother he shall not become impure'
15. QuestionIn what way does a gentile have no father?
16. ChallengeNot inheritance: a gentile does inherit his father
17. ResolutionPerhaps it means a gentile is not commanded to honor his father
18. ChallengeBut honoring parents is not mentioned by נזיר
19. ResolutionA new reading: the verse is about one who can become impure