People often think of Purim as the drinking Jewish holiday. Many of my Jewish friends who know little about Torah can quote the Talmud tradition that commands:
מיחייב איניש לבסומי בפוריא עד דלא ידע בין ארור המן לברוך מרדכי
a person is obligated to drink on Purim until he can no longer distinguish between cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordecai (B. Meggilah 7b).
Later Jewish legal authorities such as the Tur and the Shulchan Aruch codified this tradition as halacha, binding Jewish law! Around the world Jews treat Purim like college students treat Mardi Gras, and like many Irish-Americans treat St. Patricks day.
Before we go running to the nearest liquor store or local bar, I want to point out a parallel teaching within the Talmud that directly follows the drinking mandate:
רבה ורבי זירא עבדו סעודת פורים בהדי הדדי, איבסום, קם רבה שחטיה לרבי זירא. למחר בעי רחמי ואחייה. לשנה אמר ליה: ניתי מר ונעביד סעודת פורים בהדי הדדי! אמר ליה: לא בכל שעתא ושעתא מתרחיש ניסא
Rabba and Rabbi Zeira made the Purim feast one with the other. They became intoxicated. Rabba stood up and slaughtered Rabbi Zeira. On the next day, [Rabbah] prayed for mercy, and brought [Rabbi Zeira] to life. The next year, [Rabbah] said to [Rabbi Zeira]: May my master come and may we make the Purim feast one with the other! [Rabbi Zeira] said to [Rabbah], It is not on each and every occasion that a miracle will happen (B. Meggilah 7b).
While the story ends with Rav Zeirah successfully reviving Rabbah through prayer, we see here a demonstration of how drunkenness leads to inappropriate and often violent behavior. The fact that this story follows a call for festive drunkenness inclines us to think twice about drinking excessively on Purim.
Like most Jewish holidays, we sanctify the time on Purim with wine. But how much wine is appropriate? The Rambam (Rabbi Moses Maimonides) proposes a very creative suggestion to harmonize the directive of excessive drinking with the the cautionary tale against drunkenness. He tells us that on Purim we should only drink to the extent that alcohol will enable us to fall asleep. When a person sleeps, he surely cannot tell the difference between the blessed Mordecai and the cursed Haman. In wishing everyone a Happy Purim, let's remember to celebrate responsibly.
מיחייב איניש לבסומי בפוריא עד דלא ידע בין ארור המן לברוך מרדכי
a person is obligated to drink on Purim until he can no longer distinguish between cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordecai (B. Meggilah 7b).
Later Jewish legal authorities such as the Tur and the Shulchan Aruch codified this tradition as halacha, binding Jewish law! Around the world Jews treat Purim like college students treat Mardi Gras, and like many Irish-Americans treat St. Patricks day.
Before we go running to the nearest liquor store or local bar, I want to point out a parallel teaching within the Talmud that directly follows the drinking mandate:
רבה ורבי זירא עבדו סעודת פורים בהדי הדדי, איבסום, קם רבה שחטיה לרבי זירא. למחר בעי רחמי ואחייה. לשנה אמר ליה: ניתי מר ונעביד סעודת פורים בהדי הדדי! אמר ליה: לא בכל שעתא ושעתא מתרחיש ניסא
Rabba and Rabbi Zeira made the Purim feast one with the other. They became intoxicated. Rabba stood up and slaughtered Rabbi Zeira. On the next day, [Rabbah] prayed for mercy, and brought [Rabbi Zeira] to life. The next year, [Rabbah] said to [Rabbi Zeira]: May my master come and may we make the Purim feast one with the other! [Rabbi Zeira] said to [Rabbah], It is not on each and every occasion that a miracle will happen (B. Meggilah 7b).
While the story ends with Rav Zeirah successfully reviving Rabbah through prayer, we see here a demonstration of how drunkenness leads to inappropriate and often violent behavior. The fact that this story follows a call for festive drunkenness inclines us to think twice about drinking excessively on Purim. Like most Jewish holidays, we sanctify the time on Purim with wine. But how much wine is appropriate? The Rambam (Rabbi Moses Maimonides) proposes a very creative suggestion to harmonize the directive of excessive drinking with the the cautionary tale against drunkenness. He tells us that on Purim we should only drink to the extent that alcohol will enable us to fall asleep. When a person sleeps, he surely cannot tell the difference between the blessed Mordecai and the cursed Haman. In wishing everyone a Happy Purim, let's remember to celebrate responsibly.