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Ask the Rabbi

Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon Rabbanit Sharon Rimon

DRINKING ON PURIM

ava said: One is obligated In contrast, the Rif (Megillah 3b) we are not commanded to be joyful
to drink on Purim until he and Rosh (Megillah 1:8) cite Rava’s with frivolity and nonsense, but rather
R cannot distinguish (ad delo statement without comment and omit joyful in pleasure, which leads one to
yada) between “cursed is Haman” and the story entirely, implying that there love G-d and express gratitude for the
“blessed is Mordechai.” (Megillah 7b) is indeed an obligation to become miracles He performed for us.
completely inebriated on Purim.
This famous statement is difficult to The Shulchan Aruch (695:2) cites
understand, as it does not seem to fit Many Rishonim take the third Rava’s statement without comment,
with the general halachic approach, approach that maintains an obligation indicating that he accepts the view of
with its emphasis on maintaining to drink wine but limits the extent of the Rif and the Rosh. In contrast, the
intellectual clarity at all times. necessary drunkenness. Rema cites the views of the Orchot
Chaim and the Rambam. Accordingly,
The continuation of the gemara is The Rambam rules (Hilchot Megillah the Mishnah Berurah (695:5)
also challenging. The gemara relates 2:15) that one should drink wine until concludes that one should drink more
that Rabba and Rabbi Zeira once he falls asleep out of drunkenness, than he is used to, to the point that he
celebrated the Purim feast together, thereby attaining the goal of “ad falls asleep.
and they became drunk. In his stupor, delo yada.” Tosafot (Megillah 7b)
Rabba killed Rabbi Zeira. When similarly writes that one should In practice, the reality today is that
Rabba realized what he had done, he drink only to the point that his imbibing alcohol and becoming drunk
prayed for mercy, and Rabbi Zeira words become slurred and unclear. can often have a damaging effect
came back to life. The following Rabbeinu Yerucham (Toldot Adam on one’s health and wellbeing, and
year, Rabba invited Rabbi Zeira to VeChava 10:1) writes that one need disrupt society. Therefore, it is best
once again join him for the Purim only achieve the level of drunkenness to drink only a small amount of wine
feast, but Rabbi Zeira declined, as he at which he can no longer compute on Purim. Each individual should
did not wish to rely on a miracle of the mathematical values of the ensure that the small amount that he
ְ
resurrection happening again. phrases ן ָּ מ ַ ה רּור ָ א and י ַ כ ְ ּ ד ְ רֹמ ךּור ָּ ב, both drinks leads to spiritual attainment
of which are 502. Obviously, less and not to inappropriate behavior.
There appears to be a clear wine is necessary in order for one to The alcohol should serve to release
contradiction between the gemara’s achieve the states described by these one’s inhibitions somewhat so that
initial statement and the story that Rishonim. he can attain holiness – and not, G-d
follows it. The story implies that forbid, the opposite. Women should
drunkenness is dangerous, and the The Orchot Chaim (Megillah avoid drinking even more than men, as
simple conclusion from this would VePurim 38) maintains that one alcohol has a stronger effect on them.
appear to be that one should not should drink “somewhat more than he
become drunk on Purim – in contrast is used to, so that he will be very joyful The Slonimer Rebbe (Netivot Shalom,
and will make the poor happy.” He
to Rava’s statement regarding the Purim, p. 57) writes that on Purim, we
obligation to drink to the point of loss unequivocally rejects the possibility have the ability to reach our inner core
that one is obligated to become drunk
of lucidity. even without drinking wine. He notes
on Purim: that Rava states that one is obligated to
We find three approaches among the For drunkenness is utterly forbidden, become drunk “bePuraya” – in Purim,
Rishonim to explain this puzzling and there is no greater sin than this, as i.e. one should become inebriated not
gemara. through wine, but through the lofty
it leads to immorality and murder and power of Purim itself.
According to Rabbeinu Ephraim (cited many other sins.
in Ba’al Ha-Me’or, Megillah 3b in the The Meiri (Megillah 7b) elaborates on Rabbi Yosef Zvi Rimon is Head of
Rif’s pages), the point of the story is to the nature of the obligation: Mizrachi's Shalhevet Educational
demonstrate that Rava’s statement was Advisory Board, Chairman of the
rejected; one should not, in fact, drink We are not obligated to become drunk Halacha Education Center and Rabbi of
wine to the point of “ad delo yada.” and to demean ourselves out of joy, for Machon Lev

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