Why Wine?

Why drink wine on Purim?

“14 reasons for drinking wine on Purim”

by Natan Kaziev

1.     The simple explanation is that all the miracles of Purim occurred through drinking. Vashti was killed as a result of Achashverosh’s drunkenness. Esther was coronated Queen through a mishtei, and Haman was hanged as a result of a mishtei Esther made.

2.     The days of Purim are joyous days, and as we know, simcha cannot be accomplished without wine, as the passuk tells us (Tehillim 104:15) “Ve’yayin Yesamach Levav Enosh”- “And wine will make joyous the heart of man”.

3.     The whole story took place due to the miscalculation of the 70-year exile; therefore, we drink wine, which is gematria 70. (N.K.)

4.     It says Zachor Et Yom HaShabbat (lit. Rememember the day of Shabbat)  which our Rabbis explain Zochrehu al Hayayin (Remember it on wine, kiddush), the connection between wine and Shabbat is since by Shabbat the term ‘remembering’ is used, and there are a couple verses in scripture linking wine to rememberance (see Shir Hashirim 1:4 and Hoshe’a 14:8), therefore we make kiddush (“remember Shabbat”) on wine. On Purim too it says these days are Nizkarim (Remembered); therefore, we remember it with wine.

5.     It says zachor by Amalek, and this story of Purim reminds us what Amalek tried to do to us; therefore, we do it with wine, which is connected to zechira as mentioned in reason 4.

6.     A lot of allusions to YAYIN in the turning points of the story: 1) when Esther invited the King and Haman to the party and said Yavo Hamelech VeHaman- the last letter of the latter two words is gematria Yayin. 2) Achashverosh told Esther ask whatever you’d like Vetinaten lach, last letter by each is gematria Yayin. 3) Esther responds Tinaten Li Nafshi, last letters spell Yayin. 4) Also, Achashverosh told Haman all you have said to do to the man who the king desires to honor do Ken Lemordechai HaYehudi, last letters spell Yayin. (N.K.)

7.     Throughout the story of in the Megillah, the providence of Hashem's hand was concealed. This is alluded to in the word Yayin, which is an acronym for Yad Ykvk (Hashem) Nistar. (N.K.)

8.     From the time when Haman was brought up in ranks by Achasverosh (perek 3 passuk 1) till Haman's legacy came to an end (7;10), there are 70 pesukim. Our Rabbis tell us these 70 pesukim correspond to the 70 days Haman was second in command. Haman's high stature only lasted 70 days. The Keren Yehoshua adds that the Aseret Hadibrot has 620 letters, corresponding to the 613 mitzvot from the Torah and 7 mitzvot from our Rabbis. Now the 619th mitzvah is Purim. Purim corresponds to the second to last letter in the Aseret Hadibrot, which is the letter “ayin”- 70,  corresponding to Haman's 70-day leadership. Therefore, we drink wine, which is gematria 70. (N.K.)

9.     Ye’arot Devash (chelek 2 drush 13): since the Jews were in great pain and grief due to Haman's decree, they weren’t able to pray to Hashem with clarity and serenity; rather, they screamed out to Hashem like drunkards. Therefore, in remembrance of this, we drink wine on Purim like drunkards.

10.  See Rav Mutzafi (Purim BeTzion page 339), where he brings the sefer Moshe ben Machir, which writes, "Haman tried to kill us and spill Jewish blood; therefore, we mimic this in a joyous way by drinking wine till we look like we're 'dead.'"

11.  Another reason (ibid): Haman wanted to spill our blood; we counteract that by adding “blood (wine)” to our blood.

12.  The Chatam Sofer (Torat Moshe on Purim) explains: the Jews attended Achashverosh's party and got drunk. Therefore, we have a mitzvah to drink on Purim to rectify the aveira.

13.  Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach (Halichot Shlomo Mo’adim 19: footnote 79) explains that Purim was established during the time of galut (exile), and it is not possible to be joyous while we are in galut. Therefore, we drink to forget about the fact that we are in galut, and then we can be properly joyous.

14.  The Miracle of the Purim story started with Esther keeping her identity hidden, and then everything changed when she revealed her “big secret (her identity)” Therefore, we drink wine to replicate this because as we know, “Nichnas Yayin Yatzah Sod (as wine comes in, secrets come out)”; all year round we hide our true essence on Purim, we reveal our true identity. (N.K)