2007-03-28 17:17:33 · 15 answers · asked by meshugineh 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Holidays ➔ Passover
it's a myth that stems from the required 4 cups of wine during the seder, but since those are spaced out, and there's a large meal in between, they really aren't meant to get you drunk.
Also, getting drunk could cause someone to commit a chilul hashem by behaving badly, so drunkenness is supposed to be discouraged.
EDIT:
Contrary to what several people have tried to claim, it is not a mitzvah to get drunk on purim, either. It is mentioned, in the Talmud as a personal interpretation, not as a law in the Torah.
2007-03-28 17:29:40 · answer #1 · answered by Skysong 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Just to add on to everyone else:
On Purim there is a rabbinical obligation to drink enough WINE (as opposed to any other alcoholic beverage) so that one cannot distinguish between the righteousness of Mordichai the Jew and the wickedness of Haman the the Agagi. However, most authorities say that one should simply drink more than he's accustomed to (for a religious Jew that's not too much) and then go to sleep, since while sleeping one won't know the difference.
In contrast, on Pesach (Passover) we are required (again, rabbinically) to drink 4 cups of wine. One for the usual Holiday "Kiddish" or verbal sanctification, one approximately 1-3 hours later (depending on how involved you get, I'm not exaggerating) , the other around an hour later, and after a full meal, and the other around twenty minutes later. Now, one isn't supposed to get drunk off of that, but some might get a little, er, loosened, and this might've started that rumor.
Also, I don't understand the "not getting drunk off of Kosher for Passover wine" lines. It's the exact same grapes, it's just been watched to make sure that no leavened products got into it.
This is as complete as it gets, and I hope it helped. I'm glad you asked, it keeps rumors off the street (sort of).
2007-04-01 04:26:15 · answer #2 · answered by kg4vbo 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You are mixing up Pesach (passover) and Purim. It is not a mitzvah to get drunk ever.
It is a mitzvah to get slightly buzzed from wine on Purim to not know the difference between Haman and Mordechai.
The mitzvah pertains only to wine. So drinking vodka or other alcohol as many do at shuls is not part of the mitzvah.
2007-04-01 13:32:33 · answer #3 · answered by guylookin4fun06 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You've confused Passover with Purim. On Passover you only drink 4 cups of wine. And trust me, nobody is getting drunk off of kosher for passover wine.
2007-03-30 16:35:48 · answer #4 · answered by Rachel B 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It is a mitzvah to get drunk on Purim because we outfoxed the fox Haman. We are told to drink a certain number of glasses of wine during Seder to celebrate our liberation. It is not a mitzvah
2007-03-29 02:16:25 · answer #5 · answered by devora k 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
I've never heard of such a thing. God does not condone drunkeness, so why would it be a mitzvah?
2007-03-29 00:24:43 · answer #6 · answered by C J 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
silly, thats Purim not Passover... not all alcohol is kosher for passover, because of the yeast, so be careful
2007-03-30 15:49:20 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
You're thinking of Purim, not Passover.
2007-03-29 00:47:06 · answer #8 · answered by LadySuri 7 · 1⤊ 2⤋
That is absolutely not true.
While we must drink four cups of wine, anyone who has difficulty is permitted to drink grape juice instead of wine.
i am amazed at the misinformation floating around and appreciate the opportunity to correct some of it.
2007-03-29 11:42:53 · answer #9 · answered by Ivri_Anokhi 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
It isn't. Just the 4 cups of wine, to show we're free and can afford to drink.
2007-04-01 21:23:36 · answer #10 · answered by ysk 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋