Jewish Scene  Rabbi Levi Brackman
Judaism and alcohol
Rabbi Levi Brackman
Published: 18.03.11, 08:58
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18 Talkbacks for this article
1. *yawn*
Riki ,   Tel Aviv   (03.18.11)
2. *hiccup*
mike ,   israel (formerly usa   (03.18.11)
3. Alcohol consumption
graczek ,   Maryland, USA   (03.18.11)
I don't usually comment on Jewish internal affairs, but I will do so here: In any rational society, the consumption of beverage alcohol must be forbidden and treated as a drug offense, except under supervised, peer-reviewed medical prescription. Prohibition was tried in the USA, and would have been quite successful, if the political will to enforce it had been there.
4. to 3
Barney ,   USA   (03.18.11)
you don't mean in any rational society -you mean in any repressive, sharia islamic society. after all, it is dangerous to play with bombs if you are drunk
5. Moderation is the key.
Ivan B. ,   San Jose, CA USA   (03.18.11)
Extreme behavior is not Jewish, including heavy drinking, but also no drinking. The author makes it clear that a balance is what our rabbis were striving for. I think the problem in some Haredi circles is that they can't make a decision for themselves without it being as clearly laid out as the rules for Shabbat and Kashrut.
6. Prohibition - #3
Michael Davison ,   Ra'anana, Israel   (03.18.11)
If you really knew your US history and understood it, you would know that the only real results of prohibition were: 1) Proving that if there's a demand, there will be supply, even if the product demanded is illegal. 2) Giving organized crime a chance to become entrenched in the US to the extent that it still exists from coast to coast. Prohibition was the product of pressure groups--the majority drank a toast to prohibition when it went into effect and never stopped their consumption until it was repealed. Ask your own friends if they would support a movement to prohibit alcoholic drinks today.
7. Scriptures allow alcohol drinking for a heavy heart, but
Rivkah   (03.18.11)
certain categories of people are forbiden to drink alcohol because that might pervert their judgment which can harm other people. Princes are fobidden to drink alcohol. Who or what are princes? Gesenius' defines a prince as a member of a Royal family or a military commander (senior military officer or non comissioned officer), or a priest. I have rarely met anyone in those categories who obeyed Scriptures and those who did were ridiculed mercilessly. Alcohol in moderation can be medicinal and being temperate in all things is important. Heavy drinking is allowed in Scriptures only for those with a heavy heart who are ready do perish.
8. To #3 and #6
Saying NO to Sharia ,   Alaska, USA   (03.18.11)
First, Michael - good points, I was thinking the same thing. Except that Graczek's friends would love to prohibit alcoholic drinks, and have public schools closed for Ramadan. And have all non-Muslims pay a dhimmi tax. Graczek, you probably should sent your post to Al Jazeera instead; they love Sharia law there. Actually you should just move to Iran or Saudi Arabia or some other Muslim paradise. Leave America to us "infidels," thanks!
9. Drinking on purim
bill ,   los angeles, calif   (03.18.11)
One additional response for drinking is to not recognize Mordachi'a or Hamans names correctly. So drink one more shot than normal & go to sleep. This way the names are not stated properly
10. EAT DRINK AND BE MERRY
LAWRENCE ,   SAFED ISRAEL   (03.18.11)
Stop telling people what to do ,or not do .
11. graczek #3 BS
Gee ,   Zikron Yaakov   (03.19.11)
"I don't usually comment on Jewish internal affairs" You mean more than a few times a day. As for imposing your idea of morality upon everybody else - take a flying leap. Prohibition was not only total disaster and ignored by a vast majority of the American people, the damage it did to the US was enormous.
12. I say Pour-'im Another Drink On Purim!-The AuthorNeedsOne!
Edvaard Matouso ,   Nieroi, Brasil   (03.19.11)
He needs to loosen up a little.
13. When you do drink alcohol, confess it as sin to YHWH and
Rivkah   (03.19.11)
ask Him to protect you from untoward effects.
14. Hello my name is Moshe and im an alcoholic
Moshe ,   Rehab   (03.20.11)
it all started with Kiddush wine on a friday and then you know one thing led to another and now i am an alcoholic.
15. Alcohol
Yakov   (03.20.11)
I believe that what Judaism has to say about alcohol is the following: It's OK to drink, but not to get drunk. License is made for Simchat Torah and Purim. That's what I understand and it's fine with me. Another thing: I have seen Reform communities who do the Kiddush in a very good way. They provide a choice between the grape juice and the wine. Those who want wine partake of it-but in very small quantities. And it's really all done with decorum. I too have seen Orthodox communities where there is among others, vodka, brandy, and whisky present at the Kiddush table-after morning Shabbat minyan. Honestly, I don't really care for that practice as it seems excessive-even when there is food at the tables. There's a reason why it is called Mashkeot charifim-and a good one.
16. 14 Moshe, Rehab: That is a big step to confess what you are
Rivkah   (03.20.11)
since you can't accept help if you are in denial. A girlfriend's retired physician husband is an alcoholic and has not had alcoholic beverages in decades. But if he sees a bottle of wine, he salivates like a wolf seeing its prey. Alcoholism is lifelong and that means a daily battle to win the victory. My father used to say an alcoholic is someone who when he starts drinking cannot stop until he is unconscious. He did not consider himself to be an alcoholic but he drank moderately, usually diluted beer since his Scot soul was too stingy to drink a bottle of beer without mixing it half and half with water.
17. Judaism, Christianity and Islam on Alcoholism
Dr Vroom ,   Australia   (03.28.11)
IPT2020 says: That is why in ISLAM, Islam prohibits the consumption of alcoholic drinks, even handling the alcoholic bottles are highly discourage (let alone drinking it). Source from the Quran: "They ask you about alcoholic drinks and gambling. Say, "There is great harm in both, though there is some benefit also for the people. But the harm of the sin thereof is far greater than their benefit. " (2:219). Today, the scientific authorities have proven that alcoholic drinks can threaten the health, mind, physical body, and even close families relationships. On a daily basis, many road accidents, divorce cases, youth delinquents (youth offenders), etc. are the direct results of alcoholism. That does not even take into account the high costs of purchasing the alcoholic drinks in the first place. Note: ITS not just only in NZ that faces this problem (alcoholism), in Australia, UK, and USA, the numbers are on record high over the past years. The question is, when are the government seriously considering banning them, or limiting the age group to says, 21 years and above. Note: Islam totally probits the consumption of alcohol (100 percent), however, both Christianity and Judaism allows alcohol consumption, BUT in moderation. Thats the problem, when can one really says enough is enough ?! (Also can everyone really control their thrist and desire for alcoholic drinks once they gets into it, especially when alcoholic drinks are very addictive, so much so that, top politicians, singers, actors/actress, and even top motivators and doctors, some go into Rehabilitation Centres due to alcoholism problem). “Praise be to Allah.” From, Dr-Vroom, IPT2020 Note: Need more proofs and media coverages, see below: http://au.news.yahoo.com/world/a/-/world/9084545/more-child-alcoholics-recorded-in-nz/ (28th March 2011) .
18. Well said Rav Brackman
Rinah   (06.12.11)
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