| "A man or woman who sets themselves apart by making a vow to become a nazir, to abstain…"
(Bamidbar 6:2)
Chazal teach us: Why is the section of Nazir placed next to the section of Sotah?
To teach that anyone who witnesses the downfall of the Sotah should separate themselves from wine, because wine can lead to immorality. (Rashi)
As Jews who have received the Torah and established safeguards around it to preserve its holiness, we must understand something fundamental:
A life spent chasing one pleasure after another, constantly seeking to satisfy one desire after the next, will never bring real fulfillment.
There will always be an inner emptiness, a restless craving for the next thrill to fill the void.
This doesn't mean we are forbidden to enjoy the world.
HaShem wants us to experience joy—but we are obligated to elevate every pleasure by dedicating it, in some way, to the honor of Heaven.
Whether it's a blessing before eating, or any other enjoyment experienced within the framework of halachah, every restraint, every boundary placed for the sake of HaShem, not only protects us—it infuses that pleasure with depth, meaning, and lasting satisfaction.
Instead of falling into a bottomless pit of indulgence, we become anchored in a world of purpose.
Rebbe Nachman refers to this in his teachings as "pleasantness with boundaries"—rooted in the verse, "Yaakov is the rope (חבל - which is also related to boundaries) of His inheritance". When there is a rope, a limit, a structure, the "pleasantness" becomes complete and enduring. But when we seek endless enjoyment without any spiritual structure, that pursuit turns sour. It leads to bitterness, and to a desire to escape reality altogether.
May we merit to set holy boundaries, to dedicate our pleasures to HaShem with sincerity and truth.
And through that, may we taste the true pleasantness of holiness—a deep, enduring sense of fulfillment and inner peace.
Shabbat Shalom | 
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