No. 1/10
Author: Aharon Shemesh
Title: A Nazirite for Rent
Abstract: This article argues that a unique socio-religious phenomenon of professional nazirites has existed towards the end of the second Temple period. Alongside those who became nazirites out of religious piety, there were also people who took upon themselves the vow of nazirhood in order to make a living off the donations of rich patrons. Some of the early Rabbis opposed this phenomenon and introduced new laws that made this type of nazirhood impractical. This is thus an interesting test case for the complicated dynamic between popular religious practices and beliefs and the established religious institutions and elite.
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