By Liba Shaffer
I hope it is okay for me to make this heartfelt plea before Purim.
Please don’t drive drunk this Purim (or ever). Don’t let anyone you know drive drunk.
Writing with a broken heart – a piece of which is missing for the last 15+ years and until Moshiach comes.
Please, in honor of my father’s 15th yahrtzeit (17 Adar) make sure that you don’t let anyone in your life drive drunk this Purim – and always.
It doesn’t matter how well you know the person or not – if they are planning to get into a car either take away their keys or call the cops (I think Hatzoloh may be willing to interfere if someone wants to call for help within the community).
My father, Gedaliah Yirachmiel ben Michel OBM, was killed by a drunk driver.
*Picture is from one of his last purim seudos. He would make a l’chaim but not a lot of drinking.
Also… friends don’t let friends WALK drunk. With lots of crazy New York drivers, please don’t let a highly inebriated person walk home on their own.
So sorry to read about your father A”H.
To add to your plea:
Whose job is it to tell the Rabbi or the other “machers” that they had to much to drink–and not just on Purim, either!?
Set a good example for others, please. More importantly if you’re drinking at all, don’t drive.
How could you possibly know that you are not impaired? What, you made it home OK the last few times? Not worth the gamble!
Thank you, Liba! Your beautiful father, A’H, is very missed. Bless you for taking this pain and using it to protect others – true ahavas Yisroel!
May your father’s Neshama have an aliya!
A meaningful and Joyful Purim to all!!
Yechi Hamelech!
Such an important thing to remember. Besides it being extremely dangerous, it is highly illegal and could leave you with a criminal record or worse. You really shouldn’t drive if you had more than a little drop of alcohol.
You are fine to drive after one standard drink. Maybe even two. But don’t push it. A standard drink is one kelishek of mashkeh, one small glass of wine, or one beer. If you had more than that, wait one hour per drink that you had.
I was there, at the purim seduda where that picture was taken.
What a festive atmosphere, filled with divrie Torah and true simcha.
We really miss Gedaliah,
Thank you for this reminder. My mother was also killed by a drunk driver
חייב איניש לבסומי בפוריא…..
The point of the article was not to DRIVE while drunk–not to say do not drink on Purim.
Literal translation is to be joyous. Not to be drunk.
Should we point out all the pesukim about protecting the safety of others? about being responsible for others? about the sanctity of life? about following the laws of the land? nowhere is she saying “Don’t drink on Purim.” She is saying drink SAFELY on Purim. the same way someone who is too intoxicated should not be solely responsible for babies/young children, they for sure should not be behind the wheel of a car.
there are so many lives destroyed and families harmed by drunk driving. It is 100% preventable!! we have an achrius to each and every person around us. We should always endeavor to do it in a quiet manner but it is worth it to risk their embarrassment in the moment to save their life and the lives of others. Do not stand quietly by while another person needs your help. Thank you for this message. Wishing everyone a safe, freilich, and beautiful Purim!!
Sometimes it’s good to read an article like this, not that one would want it to exist, because it is a reminder of a reality that some people can forget…
Hugs to you my 18 year old uncle was nifter from drink driver when my father was 13 It changed the whole family my aunt was engaged but broke of to look after my Bobbyb as 60 years ago no long term relationship continued. Only good thing Chabad saw my non frum 13 year old father and helped agrieving boy move forward . Bh he bright up a good Chabad family and continues. To Sad thing no one could name after my uncle because the mohel named my father the sane name in a Yiddish version so may the neshama… Read more »
I’m so sorry to read about your fathers upcoming yahrtzeit. Thank you for taking your pain and turning it into action to help protect lives. May we be reunited with your father and moshiach before his yahrtzeit!