Kabbalah Library

124. It is written, “If a man or a woman makes a special vow, the vow of a Nazirite [hermit], to separate himself to the Lord.” He rushed to be sanctified by the sanctity of his Master in this world. He avoids wine and rye [strong alcoholic drink], does not drink wine-vinegar and rye-vinegar, nor drinks any soaked grapes or eats moist and dry grapes. Since wine is forbidden for him, why are grapes forbidden for him? After all, it is written about the priest, “Do not drink wine and rye,” but he is permitted grapes. So what is the reason that grapes are forbidden for a hermit?

125. The hermit comes to separate entirely from the judgment, more than the priest. The tree in which Adam HaRishon sinned was grapes, since wine and rye and grapes grip the left side. Wine above, on the left line of Bina, is called there “persevered wine.” Rye is to the left of ZA, since rye comes from wine. Likewise, the left line of ZA is extended from the left line of Bina. Grapes gather everyone to them, which are Malchut, who receives from all the upper ones, and this is the tree in which Adam HaRishon sinned. For this reason, everything is gripped to one side, the left of Bina, and of ZA and of Malchut.

The hermit did not leave the upper faith, so as not to receive from upper Bina and ZA and Malchut. However, he is unfit to perform an act from the left side.