For some reason I find that when it comes to drinking on purim, it is usually the modern orthodox and non-observant Jews that are anti the practice. This seems to be the case, in fact I have never really met any frummies that are anti-drinking on purim. Just like hallel on yom haatzmaut, it is one of those issues that seem to be a cultural boundary.
Are they scared of this…
I want to know where he got that costume.
I know I am afraid
I got it at a costume shop in the village!
but…
you can wear mine with me anytime you want!
Workin’ the dress, I see.
Now the question is: were you drunk enough not to remember that?
I hope he is already married because otherwise he will never get a shidduch.
And I hope his wife never sees it.
🙂
Anti drinking = anti Shulchan Aruch (provided you don’t get too drunk to miss davening).
That video is sad, I think I’d pass out before dressing like that, let alone dancing.
That outfit looks like what Dakota Fanning wore in War of the Worlds.
Phil, I can find you 30 sources that say you should sleep instead of getting intoxicated; not that I agree.
MO’s drink. Trust me. They just don’t get so drunk that they wake up drunk for a week.
I admit to being an anti-drinking MO.
It stems from being anti-drinking in general.
It just doesn’t seem like fun.
And it doesn’t seem like fulfilling a “real” mitzvah.
Probably because the whole mind-body-soul-mindfulness thing isn’t there if you’re drunk.
And damn are we into that.
Mmm, erlich.
It’s not just MO. My friend Efraim, who’s Iraqi, once sat down with me and parsed out in depth how (contrary to popular opinion) the Rambam is VERY against getting drunk on Purim. I would have thought that the Rambam says that one should drink until they collapse. My friend started going through various sources on the Rambam showing me that he really believes that it’s NEVER okay to get drunk, or to put yourself in a state of mind where you can’t do mitzvot. I can’t repeat back the entire thing, but let’s just say that it’s not just MO who are against it.
Veebee/ghottistyx,
Megillah and Shulcahn Aruch both recommend getting drunk on Purim, unless it’s going to affect your ability to perfom certan mitzvos such as davening, brachos, etc.
Phil – not that I argue with the S.A. but I can think of a few people who disagree with Rava’s statement on megillah 7b which is the me’kor for the halachah: the Ran who quotes Rabbeinu Efraim, Ba’al Hameor, the Ba’ach, the Chat’am Sofer, the Me’eri etc.
I think one reason to avoid getting so drunk that you really don’t quite know what you are doing is to prevent your yetzer harah from overcoming you and causing you to perform aveyras! Everyone, even the most devout among us, has a yetzer harah that is just waiting for that opportunity 🙂
Anyone who has remained mostly sober while watching a friend get plastered knows exactly what I am talking about.
Heshy, your comment clock is still one hour too early. Shabbat was over here about an hour ago!
Shavuah Tov everyone.
How about that Halocho that says you can not drink to the point of violations of mitzvos? This pretty much sums up the abundances of ussers this guy has done. Haha…they say, people dress up on Purim as they wish to look the entire year. Guess this guy wants to be a cross-dresser who smothers his yarmalke all over his face at various time 😉
Got it in the village, eh? I’m not surprised. It looks like something that would only be worn to the gay pride parade. I mean ALLLLLLLLL that rainbow going on….
Got it in the village, eh? It looks like something you could only buy in the village or San Francisco.
My comment clock has always been off. People only notice on Saturday night because they dont want to be accused of commenting on shabbos.
Phil I was waiting for that comment.
Phil, the exact words of the Gemara are “Chayyav Adam Li’Besumei BaPuraya Ad Delo Yada…”
Now the naysayers’ argument is that it all depends on how you interpret the word “Puraya”. Yes, the obvious translation is “Purim”. However, the word “Puraya” can also mean “bed”, say scholars of Talmudic Aramaic. Thus, the argument of the Rama, Maharil, and others who say that you’re just supposed to have some wine and then fall asleep.
And yes, the same people would argue that the Rambam, Shulchan Aruch, et al, are grossly misinterpreted. They would point out the simple lesson from the first chapter of the Megillah; it all started because Achashverosh and friends got drunk; those Jews who got drunk with him meritted the entire tragedy that almost happened; that Mordechai strongly lobbied against it.
Purim sober; it’s like going to a Phish show straight. Not the same, but it still can be done. If one’s still into the spirit, they still can have a good time.
A lot of MOs are also on the politically correct bandwagon that kids (meaning anyone under legal drinking age) should never be allowed to drink, including on Purim, because teenagers with drug problems get their start with kiddush wine and a few drinks at the family Purim seuda. I personally think this is garbage, that seeing adults handle alcohol responsibly (assuming that they ARE handling it at least somewhat responsibly) and learning one’s limits in a safe environment are preferable to sneaking off and drinking with friends. This year I let my 13 year old drink at the seuda and he stopped himself just when I would have stopped him — he was getting a bit dizzy and silly, but wasn’t sick or hung over the next day. I was proud of him for sensing that he needed to stop, and prouder still when he went out and saw several of his friends puking in the street. And I think that he respected my limits and didn’t get drunk with friends the night before BECAUSE I had told him that I would let him drink at the seuda where he could be safe, not in spite of the fact that I’m raising him to be a druggie.
Ghottistyx,
Anyone can twist wording to suit there needs. The Shulchan Aruch is very clear about it. The megillah I was referring to wasn’t gemara, it was megillas Esther that called for “yom mishteh” literally translated as a day of drinking.
MO,
U.S. laws are very strict when it comes to underage drinking. Back when I lived in Dallas, I saw some horror stories of people getting into trouble for giving alcohol to minors (anyone under 21). Here in Canada, it’s illegal to sell to people under 18, but giving them a drink won’t get you busted.
Looking back at my yeshiva years in the US, we could have easily had the Rosh yeshiva and his buddies put away for many years for supplying alcohol to 50+ minors at every farbrengen.
I let my boys have a shot here and there, they range from 3 to 13 years, obviously I don’t let any of them get past tipsy.
I’m a lawyer and I’m not aware of ANY jurisdiction where it is illegal to give alcohol to your own children. However for legal (and other) reasons I never give it to other kids, unless their parents are present and give permission, and that includes a glass of wine on Shabbat. I don’t know what the law is here in Israel, or the halacha, but I’m not taking any chances. For kids over bar/bat mitzvah I would assume that halacha treats them as adults, but I’ve never asked.
MO,
I didn’t realize you’re in Israel, I assumed you were in the US.
I’m no lawyer either, but here are a couple things that happened to us in Texas.
1) I went out to a bar with some underage friends. Anyone over 21 was stamped as legal to drink. I picked up some beers at the bar, as well as some coca cola for the minors. As soon as I handed them their non alcoholic drinks, we were rushed by undercover agents who grabbed us and proceeded to smell the drinks. They realized there was no booze in them and let us go, telling us that we would have been liable to jail time for providing alcohol to minors.
2) My brother in law and his classmates rented a limo for their high school graduation. The driver forgot to remove the booze from the minibar. They were pulled over, and even though they weren’t drinking, they were all arrested. The kids were all put on probation, while the driver lost his license and was sentenced to 1 year in prison (he got off easy too, as there were 10 kids in the car).
I realize most states aren’t as crazy as Texas when it comes to jailing people, just relating stories that I know actually happened. Each state has it’s own idiotic quirks, luckily for us Canadians we live in a free country.
Dude, Modern-Orthodoxers love to drink, whether its purim, simchas torah, weddings, shabbos morning at kiddush club…
Yes, Phil, that goes without saying. “The Devil can quote scriptures”, Shakespeare said. If one looks hard enough, they can twist any passuk/sugya/p’sak to suit their needs. But this “Eilu V’Eilu…;and where do we draw the line” discussion is for another time.
My only point was let’s not think that dry Purim is completely unjustified. It’s been a while since I’ve glanced at the Shulchan Aruch, so I don’t recall what the exact argument is. But let’s not shrug off those who are anti drinking on Purim as merely violators of halakha, but rather as having a different interpretation (I admit, one that’s less fun).
its a rainbow brite costume!
Thanks to funnystuff for clarifying that it is in fact a rainbow brite costume. Not just something picked up off the streets of San Fransisco.
There are different points on the continuum of drinking alcohol.
As a side point, the best way to drink on Purim is drinking wine. The two reasons I have heard is that the miracle of Purim occurred through wine and because holidays are time for rejoicing and ein simcha elo bibasar viyayin. People who are drinking other alcoholic beverages need to ask themselves what the point of the drinking is.
There is a huge difference between someone who drinks some wine and gets tipsy and someone who drinks way more than they can handle and gets totally plastered, ends up puking the entire rest of the day etc.
So that being said, I am not against drinking on Purim, but I am against too much drinking on Purim. As with any other time when consuming alcohol, it’s important to know your limits.
there is nothing wrong with having a little fun and enjoying yourself esp on purim
he pulled off that outfit very nicely…i dont think it should have anything to do with drinking or not. some people are able to be hyper and fun without being intoxicated. some hold drinking is permissable, others assur…. as long as u have limits
for a guy to pull off rainbow brite as colorful as he can…without being a homosexual is great.. especially when he does some fancy footwork in the beg. i noticed some reaction videos as well as a fun remake video following up on Mr. Bukin-brite on youtube
thanks for posting!
A lot of people drink on Simchas Torah also. (How that custom got started is beyond me- anyone know?) The problem with Purim is, you can drive afterward. Enjoy the holiday, but don’t do anything that would make every Purim a sad day for your family and friends.
I’m not a Lubavitcher, but I know that the Lubavitcher Rebbe, ztz”l, was very much against drinking in excess. And if you would look at any great Rav or Tzaddik on Purim, I’m sure you would not find him getting drunk.
for the record I am in no way drunk in this video! anyone who knows me definitely knows that I do not need any alcohol to be like this!
second…
Rav Nebenzahl shlit”a Rav of the Old City of Yerushalayim is very makpid on drinking a little more than usual and sleeping a little on purim day!
dude just do your thing are respect others opinions.
drinking in moderation is fine on purim oe simcaht torah,
getting totally shitfaced and causing yourself or others harm or unneeded embarrassment is not. i have seen much damage to folks on purim (ie. teens), so it’s always a good idea to know your limits and to make sure that (especially) younger drinkers don’t get sick, injure themselves or others. and never ever drink and drive or tweet on twitter whilst driving, facebook or i-phone while drinking and driving (even when sober)!
also don’t pray while you drive, study a daf gemorah while you drive, to kapporos or use the mikvah mobile (on tape is ok) or explore the new age limits of shomer negiah while driving (parked could be a problem, consult your inner tummler). also no kvetching, loud talking (sorry ’bout that hesh), kashering, schnorring or blogging. loshon hara is extremely grevious sin while driving, especially in traffic (or worse on a highway)!!! bike riding while smoking cannibis is ok (again no rechilut or evil tounging*, but not on vodka and cannibis in crown heights unless your a shicker mamesh!
(* loshon hara, not some form of new age dating rituals)