Nazarite Vow: Non-Jews
Question
I am contemplating "taking the Nazarite Vow". I am a Goy who has bound herself to G-d as described in Isaiah 56. I am 100% separated to Him. I do not watch TV, but do watch CBN Israel for updates. I do not watch any movies, read secular material or go to websites of that sort. I literally eat, breathe and think Him. I keep Sabbath - alone. Friday sundown to Saturday sundown. My husband works nights. I keep the seven appointed Feasts also alone or with my husband. I celebrate every New Moon. I spend my time hand copying the Bible and Brit Hadassah. I do believe in Yeshua or I would have converted. I am almost 50% done. I told you these things not to boast, for there is nothing to boast about, but instead to emphasize how serious I am. The vow includes no wine or strong drink, nor vinegar from grapes or similar drinks. Would this include Apple Cider Vinegar? It also includes not going near a dead body. Does this include my husband if his soul was required of him? Does this include a dog? I am the sole caregiver of two dogs. They are like children to me. I know this is awkward. I also know I am not a Jew, so I can't take the vow for "real". I wish to do so privately and symbolically. It will be for life since I also cannot make proper offerings. Please advise.
Answer
Shalom!
Thank you for your question!
It is wonderful that you believe in the One God of Israel...the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
The Nazirite vow is essentially not practiced nowadays and therefore I encourage you not to consider it. Instead, you should find other ways to connect to God. So too, there is no need for you or any non-Jew to convert to Judaism.
Judaism believes that God loves all mankind. One does not need to become Jewish to go to heaven. All that God wants from the Non-Jewish world is that they observe 7 precepts, or commandments. They are known as the “Noahide Laws.” They are called “Noahide Laws” because the requirement to observe these seven laws was given Noah, a righteous non-Jew (yes, the fellow from the story with the flood).
The 7 laws are:
1. Don’t murder.
2. Don’t steal.
3. Don’t worship false gods.
4. Don’t be sexually immoral.
5. Don’t eat a limb from an animal that is still alive.
6. Don’t curse God.
7. Establish a system of justice.
Any human being who observes these laws goes to heaven. There is no need to follow any other religion. You can pray to God in your own words and your own language.
Take a look at the website https://www.netivonline.org/ which specializes in helping non-Jews with religious beliefs. There is a wealth of information there that you will find useful and inspiring. It is also worth looking up the “Noahide” or "B'nai Noach" movement and consider joining them!