Wine on Purim

Drinking Wine on Purim?!

by Natan Kaziev

The directive by Chazal to become intoxicated on Purim might seem perplexing at first glance. How could such a practice be sanctioned? Sefer Zecher Yitzchak references the sefer Zer Zahav to shed light on this matter. He explains that the Gemara's dictum "חייב איניש לבסומי" - "A person is obligated to become intoxicated" - can be understood through the acronym "בסומי" which stands for, סמר מפחדך בשרי וממשפטיך יראתי (תהלים קיט:קכ)-“My flesh shudders for fear of You, and I am in awe of Your judgments." (Tehillim 119:120).

With this interpretation he explains that our Rabbis only allowed us to indulge in intoxication, on condition that our fear of Heaven remains intact.

Furthermore, the sefer Torat Moshe Natan elaborates that this obligation is derived from the story of the Megillah itself. The Megillah tells us that many non-Jews began converting to Judaism out of fear of the Jews. The Bet Din faced an influx of candidates. To discern genuine intentions, they administered wine to the prospective converts and observed their behavior and attitude towards Judaism under its influence. This method served as a litmus test to ascertain the sincerity of their desire for conversion.

The use of wine as a tool for revealing truth is evident in the story of Yosef and his brothers. When Yosef tested his brothers' remorse by providing them with wine, it enabled him to gauge their sincerity and ultimately led to their reconciliation.

There is a famous story that underscores the wisdom behind utilizing wine to unveil hidden intentions. A man was engaged to a non-Jewish woman against the Rabbi's counsel. The Rabbi realizing there was no way of convincing him out of it asked him to arrange a pre-wedding party with his fiancés family and friends. At the party many cups of alcohol were consumed. The ensuing revelry exposed the derogatory remarks and anti-Semitic sentiments expressed by the bride-to-be's family and friends, prompting the groom to reconsider his decision and cancel the wedding al-together.

The consumption of wine is supposed to bring out our connection to Hashem and the mitzvot. The Chayei Adam writes, if one would belittle even one mitzvah under the influence of Alcohol, he should refrain from partaking in wine. The numerical value of "חמר" (wine in Aramaic) is 248, corresponding to the 248 positive mitzvot, signifying the role of wine in enhancing our enthusiasm for fulfilling these commandments.