Ad Delo Yada…

Q: I wanted to ask a question about Purim. All of my friends look forward to Purim, and when the day comes, they drink, get happy and exhilarated.  I, however, don’t manage to connect to the simchah, and on the contrary, feel tense and anxious throughout the day. I’d be very grateful if you could please offer me an eitzah that will help me truly rejoice and perform the mitzvah of simchas Purim.

Hagaon Harav Dovid Levy shlit”a replies: My gut feeling is that what bothers you most about Purim is the widespread inebriation and unpleasant behavior that often result from it. When people drink, their tongues get loose, they share secrets (some of which are better left unspoken), people may get insulted and hurt, and there’s an overall discomfort and awkwardness when people get drunk and have a difficult time holding their wine.

The truth is that the Halachah presents various opinions regarding the mitzvah of getting drunk on Purim. Among Klal Yisrael, we also see a variety of customs practiced in different streams and sectors. This is exemplified by the Rema’s statement in Orach Chaim Ch. 895:2: “One does more and one does less, as long as he directs his heart to Shamayim.”

It’s important to know that when one is unaccustomed to drinking, what often happens is that alcohol has a detrimental effect on both on the drinker and his environment. It is difficult to say that this is a fulfillment of the mitzvah of “mishteh vesimchah” which is one of the special mitzvos of the day of   Purim. 

The Sfas Emes (Megillah 7b) writes that “ad delo yada” is a limit, not an objective. Of course, there are those who maintain otherwise, and if they are doing so upon the instruction and guidance of their Rabbanim, then drunkenness surely has its place. I recall certain Gedolim from Breslev whose purity was revealed specifically while they were inebriated. However, one whose Rabbanim do not follow this approach should certainly abide by the more lenient opinions regarding drinking and inebriation.

When someone is accustomed to consuming alcohol, then the above problem rarely applies. On the other hand, consistent drinking engenders other problems, and I’ll elaborate on this for a moment now:

In the past years, we’ve witnessed a significant rise in alcohol consumption and what’s known as a “drinking culture” among frum society. If this all started and ended with mild hedonism, I would keep quiet, but the problem runs much deeper than that. In many cases, people are turning to the bottle as an escape from life, debts, stress, etiquette and even proper morals.

The source of this drinking culture is not a chassidishe farbrengen, but rather the gentile bars and pubs where alcohol is used as a means of entertainment and recreation.

The Jewish way of life is founded on responsibility and choice, which is the diametric opposite of escape and pure recreation.

I am not professing that there is no place for alcohol in our society. On the contrary, wine occupies a prominent place in Yiddishkeit, and there are many mitzvos in which it is a vital element. Chazal teach that “There is no praise, except upon wine”; and we are commanded with the mitzvos of arba kosos on Pesach; Kiddush and Havdalah; kos shel brachah at seudos mitzvah and more. There is even a special berachah recited upon wine! But it is up to us to distinguish between proper and improper drinking, and between simchah and frivolity.

Proper drinking leads to the release of blockages that prevent simchah; whereas excessive consumption of alcohol and drunkenness is a means of escaping the responsibilities and burdens of life and accountability.

The litmus test is the results. Proper drinking and the release of emotional impediments culminate in songs and praises, dancing and expressions of gratitude to Hashem Yisborach and compliments and appreciation to those in our midst. On the contrary, improper drinking and escape lead to frivolity, unruly, riotous behavior, insults and pain to those around us.

To answer your specific question regarding achieving a level of proper drinking and simchah, I believe that the answer is rooted in planning and forethought. Just as anything important requires preparation, so you should consider this question as you approach Purim, plan for it and decide how much you’re going to drink, when and where. Drinking during the seudah is usually the best idea, especially when you’re surrounded by a positive, uplifting environment, friends and family, and a joyous atmosphere that inspires singing and praising Hashem and those around you.

To sum it up: There is certainly a place for drinking in Yiddishkeit, and all the more so, on the day of Purim when we were commanded with the mitzvah of mishteh vesimchah. Yet we must be cautious to ensure that drinking is done in moderation, in a Jewish spirit and with aspirations to grow and serve Hashem on a higher level, and never, chas veshalom, as a means of evading responsibility.