Op-Ed by Rabbi Yeheskel Lebovic
The Gemoro (Megila 7b) describes the bizarre episode of Rabba and Rabbi Zeira, getting together for Seudas Purim.
“They became inebriated; Rabba got up and “slaughtered” R. Zeira. The next day he begged (Hashem) for mercy and “revived” him.
The following year, he (Rabba) asked him “Sir, let us again have Seudas Purim together.”
He (R. Zeira) said: “Not every time does a miracle occur.”
The questions that can be raised in this story abound, and are answered in various ways, including the Chassidic explanations of the Rebbe in Likutei Sichos.
However, it is worthwhile to pay attention to the simple explanation of the Maharsha:
Rabba did not actually “slaughter and shecht” R. Zeira, but overly encouraged, and thus “forced,” him to drink lots of wine and/or mashke. The reason why the Gemoro employs the term “shechted him” is because drinking and slaughtering are both connected to the throat. R. Zeira grew sick from overdrinking, to the extent that by the following day he reached a point that got Rabba very worried, upon which he davened feverishly for his recovery. This explains why he didn’t daven for him on the very same day, and waited till the next day!
The term that the Gemoro employs “ach’yay” then only means that he revived him (for we do find the term “chai” used in the Gemoro to connote healing) from his sickness through his davening which was answered. The rest of the story therefore also makes sense, both Rabba’s invitation the following year and R. Zeira’s retort.
Chassidim are accustomed to hearing the invitational “zog l’chaim!” and readily accede to the invitation. And while Purim is not circumscribed by the usual parameters of judicious reason, one should yet bear in mind that it’s no Mitzva to get sick, sometimes very seriously, as a result. We have heard too many sad stories concerning this matter.
Wishing everyone a Freiliche Purim!
the rebbe actually said that through the drinking they reached a higher level (in torah) that they couldnt reach without the drinking so theres absoblutelly nothing wrong with saying lchaim and going out of urself abit and there were years that the rebbe said that u can drink more than 4
about a bochur who drank so much he died… or almost did. DO you really want that to be you?? (This is for numbers 9 and 20 who are way too excited about drink till you drop.)
There’s another really good reason for not drinking until the point that you don’t know what you’re doing anymore. You’ll ruin your reputation! Drinking loosens inhibitions and brings to the front emotions, behaviours and the ‘demons’ which normally lay dormant, or at least are controlled. Over the years, I have seen some very undignified and disrespectful actions and heard some hurtful and mean talk from people whom I had previously held in high regard, but no longer do because of the inappropriateness of what they did or said. My disappointment is not that they harboured such thoughts or words, but… Read more »
TO 21
You don’t need the sicha to establish that our amoraim were not low lifes! That itself is the reason why the Maharsha does not accept this story at face value!
i liked nr 18
I don’t understand—don’t you all know that the rebbe forbade more than 4 lchaims?!?! Do we know more than the Rebbe?
I just read a bochur describing how last year he nearly DIED from over-drinking. it was a total MIRACLE that he’s alive today!
How can you know more than the REbbe?!
i think everyone should be quiet untill they learn sicha in c. 31 the second purim sicha where the rebbe explains the story of the gemara that raba didnt almost ”kill” r. zeira the amoraim arent a bunch of low lifes that decide to kill each other etc.
Drink till you drop! And all you aa missionaries take a hike. And number 12, i would rather spend purim with bilaams donkey and marker all over my face then spend it with someone like you!
l’achaim to everyone. there will be those that drink too much and those that don’t drink enough. i doubt these comment dialogs will change anyone. Each person knows whats good for him, to some it means drinking until… to others it means drinking very little and to some, nothing at all.
Q; why does chabad get drunk on simchas torah and not on purim?
A; You cant take pictures on simchas torah!!!!
the mitzvah is to increase SIMCHA.
If someone drinks so much that they are acting like an idiot or inflicting harm or even shame to love ones or vomitting and poisoning the,selves (lets not even talk about driving issues!!!) – there is NO ONE that would call that simcha.
drink more than your norm, but only enough to increase SIMCHA.
Moshiach Now
great article – now can we stop the drinking that goes on during the entire shabbos
So basically what you are saying is that drinking=fun and anyone who doesnt drink, or as you say till they drop, is left out of the fun of Purim?? And if you dont drink Purim will be RUINED for you??
You sound like an addict and the fact that if you dont drink your Purim will be ruined is completely misconstrued and messed up.
I actually feel bad for you.
Thank you N’shei U’bnos Chabad for all your intelligent and helpful comments!
how old are you? drinking until you drop,besides being disgusting ,can lead to alchohol poisonnig amongst other issues and is a terrible example for those who are even younger then you. a few years ago in LA,on simchas torah there were almost 20 teens brought to the emergency room i for alchohol toxicity. BH the shuls all met together to make sure this does not happen again.
You will also be making a chillul Hashem not to mention making yourself look like Bilams donkey.
L’Shem Shamayim right?
We should being drawing on the faces of those passed out like the goyim do right?
till you drop!
and you were? That would make you at least 60 to remember anything. If you are a 60 year old Chasid and are commenting on COL, well. Does anything need to be said?
Was the Rebbe falling to the floor? throwing up? blacking out? Causing harm to himself and others?
Get serious holy brother. Dont drag our ADMOR into your mud of a justification.
Moshiach NOW!
just because it happened in 5718, doesnt mean the rebbe held by getting drunk to a dangerous extent every yr. after all, it was the rebbe who instituted the 4 lchaim limit.
Here goes another sage concerned that since he doesnt drink hel be left out of the fun. While we appreciate your dvar torah we dont appreciate you trying to ruin purim for us. We will be drinking untill we drop – “ad deloi yoda” baby!
you are obviously unfamiliar with the Rebbe’s Purim Farbrengen 5718!
Please leave your chiddushes for the bais medrash holy chasid.
You wear the same hat as the rebbe, same coat, try to imitate him in every way thinking it will make you holy. Well then why would you drink more than the Rebbe?
Shame on you .
#1 you didn’t get what the Gemorah is saying…If your not careful it may be C”VS your last day!
and its not only bochurim!!!
Drinking ad dlo yaada is a very slippery slope. Often it is the start of an addiction that has awful ramifications and very difficult to get out of its grip. Don’t put yourselves in a place of skona.
a freilichen alcohol free purim.
At this rate you’ll be too drunk to be ‘mekayem the mitzva’ . . . thats not how it should be, the guy is totally right , everything within reason
Thanks for posting
Sh’koyach for reminding people whats important– i never understood cheishek to become completely inebriated…
Please, one or two days a year, stop being mayor Bloomberg and telling us what to do, let us drink and be mkiem the mitzvah!!