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The Role of Alcohol in Simchat Purim
Expressing deep concern about “the very painful and serious problem” of substance abuse – particularly regarding alcohol– in the observant Jewish community, Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, Executive Vice President of the Orthodox Union, has warned that the approaching joyous holiday of Purim should not be used as an excuse for drunkenness and reiterated the “zero tolerance" policy on alcohol at Purim events sponsored by NCSY. Purim is a day which is “especially vulnerable to alcohol abuse,” said Rabbi Weinreb, adding that the OU is launching an educational campaign at this time “to bring this problem to the awareness of our community.” This campaign includes the video clip featured above, in which Rabbi Weinreb discusses drinking on Purim, and educational material from "Wine & Spirit,” published by the OU’s Pardes Project, which provides plentiful documentation from classic Jewish sources of the dangers of alcohol abuse. In the words of Rabbi Alexander Ziskind of Grodno, quoted by Rabbi Weinreb, we may become “a bit warm, a bit fragrant,” but becoming drunk is absolutely forbidden. Rabbi Weinreb emphasized that it should go without saying that this permission to drink a minimum amount of alcohol on Purim applies only to adults and under no circumstances should alcohol be given to minors. |
