(Permission is granted to print and redistribute this material
as long as this header and the footer at the end are included.)


POINT BY POINT SUMMARY

Prepared by Rabbi P. Feldman
of Kollel Iyun Hadaf, Yerushalayim
Rosh Kollel: Rabbi Mordecai Kornfeld


Ask A Question on the daf

Previous daf

Nazir 58

NAZIR 58 - Today's learning is dedicated in loving memory of Professor Dr. Eugene (Mordechai ben Aharon) Heimler, on his 10th yahrzeit, by his beloved wife, Miriam Bracha. May the Zechus of the Torah being learned around the world be an Iluy for his Neshamah.

1) CUTTING ALL THE HAIR OF THE HEAD

(a) Suggestion: Tana'im argue whether one who cuts all the hair of his head transgresses the prohibition of cutting the Pe'os.
1. (Beraisa #1): "Do not round the corners of your head" - one might have thought, this applies even to a leper (when shaving in his purification process).
i. "(A leper shaves) his head" - we hear, a leper shaves even his Pe'os.
2. (Beraisa #2): "A razor will not pass over (a Nazir's) head" - one might have thought, this applies even to a leper.
i. "(A leper shaves) his head" - we hear, a leper shaves his head, even if he is a Nazir.
(b) Suggestion: The Tana of Beraisa #2 holds that cutting all the hair of his head is permitted;
1. "His head" teaches that the Mitzvah for a leper to shave overrides an Aseh and a Lav (of a Nazir that shaves his head);
2. The Tana of Beraisa #1 holds that cutting all the hair of his head is forbidden;
i. "His head" teaches that the Mitzvah for a leper to shave overrides a Lav (for a man, even if he is not a Nazir, to shave his head).
(c) Rejection #1 (Rava): No, both agree that cutting all the hair of his head is permitted.
1. "His head" comes to permit cutting the Pe'os, and then the rest of the hair on the head.
i. Since if he cut all his hair at once, he is exempt, even if he first cuts the Pe'os, he is exempt.
2. Objection: Does the Torah really permit such a thing?
i. (Reish Lakish): Whenever there is an Aseh and a Lav, if both can be fulfilled, he must; if not, the Aseh overrides the Lav (and here, both can be fulfilled by shaving the Pe'os last).
(d) Rejection #2: Rather, both agree that cutting all the hair of his head is forbidden.
(e) Question: Tana #2 learns from "His head" that the Mitzvah overrides an Aseh and a Lav - what is his source that a Mitzvah overrides a Lav?
(f) Answer: He learns from Tzitzis.
1. "Do not wear Sha'atnez (a mixture of wool and linen)"; a Beraisa teaches, you may fulfill the Mitzvah of Tzitzis with threads that render the garment Sha'atnez.
(g) Question: Tana #1 learns from "His head" that the Mitzvah overrides a Lav - why didn't he learn this from Tzitzis?
(h) Answer: He used that verse to teach Rava's law.
1. (Rava) Contradiction: "You will put on the threads of the corner" - the threads should be the same material as the corner of the garment;
2. "Wool and linen together" - the strings should be of wool or linen.
3. Resolution (Rava): Threads of wool or linen exempt a garment of any material; threads of any other material only exempt a garment of that material.
2) CASES WHERE A MITZVAH OVERRIDES A LAV AND AN ASEH
(a) Question: Tana #1 learns from "His head" that the Mitzvah overrides a Lav - how does he know that a Mitzvah overrides an Aseh and a Lav?
(b) Answer: He learns from "His beard".
1. (Beraisa): "(Kohanim) will not shave their beards" - one might have thought, even a Kohen that is a leper;
2. "(A leper shaves) his beard" - even if he is a Kohen.
(c) Question: Tana #2 learns from "His head" that the Mitzvah overrides an Aseh and a Lav - why didn't he learn from "His beard"?
1. Counter-question: If you hold that we can learn from "His beard" - why do we hold in general that a Mitzvah does not override a Lav and an Aseh?
58b---------------------------------------58b

2. Answer: You must say, we cannot learn in general that a Mitzvah overrides an Aseh and a Lav, for the prohibition for a Kohen to shave his beard is weak - it does not apply to all people.
(d) Answer: Likewise, we cannot learn that the Mitzvah for a leper to shave overrides the Aseh and Lav of Nazir - this prohibition is more severe than of a Kohen, it can apply to any person!
(e) Question: Tana #2 learns from "His head" that the Mitzvah overrides an Aseh and a Lav - what does he learn from "His beard"?
(f) Answer (Beraisa): "(Kohanim) will not shave their beards" - one might have thought, even a Kohen that is a leper;
1. "(A leper shaves) his beard" - even if he is a Kohen.
2. Question: How do we know, he must shave with a razor?
3. Answer (Beraisa): "(Kohanim) will not shave their beards" - one might have thought, they are liable even if they shave with scissors - the Torah says, "Do not destroy" (and scissors do not totally destroy the hair).
i. "Do not destroy" - one might have thought, he is liable even if he uses a tweezer or planing tool - "They will not shave".
ii. One is liable only for shaving which destroys, namely, with a razor.
iii. (Since the Torah needed to permit a leper Kohen to shave his beard - we hear that the Mitzvah to shave must be with a razor).
(g) Question: Tana #1 learns from "His head" that the Mitzvah overrides a Lav - why must the Torah write both "His head" and "His beard"?
1. From "His beard" alone, we hear that the Mitzvah overrides a Lav (by a non-Kohen), as well as a Lav and an Aseh (by a Kohen)!
(h) Answer: We cannot learn that a Kohen may shave his beard from a Nazir, since the prohibition of a Nazir is weak, a Nazir can annul his vow!
1. We cannot learn that a Nazir can shave his head from a Kohen, since the prohibition of a Kohen is weak, it does not apply to all people.
i. We cannot learn from them to other Mitzvos, for the reasons given.
3) OTHER PLACES ONE MAY NOT SHAVE
(a) (Rav): A person may shave his entire torso with a razor.
(b) Question (Beraisa): A man who shaves his underarms or by the genitals is lashed.
(c) Answer: One is lashed for shaving with a razor; Rav permitted shaving with scissors.
(d) Objection: But Rav said, with a razor!
(e) Answer: He meant shaving very close with a scissors, as with a razor.
(f) Version #1 (R. Chiya bar Aba): One who shaves his underarms or by the genitals is lashed.
(g) Question (Beraisa): Removing hair (in these areas) is only forbidden mid'Rabanan.
(h) Answer: R. Chiya bar Aba meant, he is lashed mid'Rabanan.
Next daf

Index


For further information on
subscriptions, archives and sponsorships,
contact Kollel Iyun Hadaf,
daf@shemayisrael.co.il