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IS A MIZVÀ binge drinking on Purim?

Like many other Jewish themes including the consumption of wine (and other alcoholic beverages) is a fascinating topic, but also quite complex.

Purim But the speech would seem to be quite simple. The Talmud (Megillah 7b) says: "Drinking is required [wine or other alcoholic beverages] until you can not discern between baruch Mordechai (Blessed is Mordechai) and Arure Amman (Amman is cursed ) ".

Many commentators, including the same Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 695), take this sentence in terms almost verbatim. And over the centuries there were many Jews - rabbis, scholars of the Torah and zaddikim - have done precisely that.

But there are many authorities that, based on a number of different interpretations, argue that it is not required to get drunk at this point. Here are some:

- The Talmud himself rejects the literal interpretation, based on a macabre story reported on the spot. So says Meiri (14th century, Provence).

- This is the maximum allowable level and the minimum necessary.

- should drink only a little 'wine, or a little' more than As has abitutati, so falling asleep. And when you sleep you certainly can not distinguish between Mordechai and Amman ( Rema, 16th century, Krakow and other commentators, whose position is taken by the authoritative Mishna Bruria , Poland, early 20th century)

- The sentence refers to the numerical value (gematria ") of the two sentences that, believe it or not, is identical (502). If you are not able to calculate mentally gematria of these Hebrew words, it means that you are sufficiently drunk ( Maghen Avraham ). For some of us can be an even sober ...

- My interpretation favorite is the following. You drink until you are able to decide what is more important than the miracle: the ruin of the wicked and the exaltation of the righteous and survival? Again this is not a simple question that requires some mental clarity.

However, according to all interpretations is not obbligatrio drunk. Behavior can be praised or not depending on not only the intentions you have, but most of the behavior that follows. In recent years, the onset of alcohol problems among young people in particular, some rabbis and psychologists have suggested to avoid drinking altogether on Purim.

Personally I do not think the case to reach to this end (if not in this place where you come from? At Pesach gluten-free? Shavuot dairy-free? Sukkot without citrus or do a Chanukah without oil?). But it is essential to drink responsibly!

Purim SAMEAC e. .. le-chaim!

Rabbi Rashi Simon
founder of Kesher, London

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