What are we to make of the strange mitzvah of Nazir?

A Nazir (aka: Nazirite) is a man or woman who takes upon themselves a vow of “nezirut”, which means total abstinence from wine and grapes, haircuts, and any contact with the dead, for at least 30 days.

Is God pleased with such a vow, or not? Does He want us to abstain from things which we are allowed to have and do? The Torah itself is ambiguous on this topic.

Rabbi Dunner looks at the Talmud, and at a variety of classical commentators, to get to the bottom of the Nazir mystery, and to uncover some lessons for our own lives.