The feast of purim..

[flyfishing]

I am doing a sermon on esther for the feast of purim. Some research i came across seems to indicate a call to drunkeness for the festival. Is this true?? The comments were getting smashed so that one cannot tell the difference between haman and mordecai.. Curious and a desire to be accurate.. Thank you..

 

[iitb]

This comes from http://www.jewfaq.org/holiday9.htm (click on it to get a full explanation of the feast)

We are also commanded to eat, drink and be merry. According to the Talmud, a person is required to drink until he cannot tell the difference between "cursed be Haman" and "blessed be Mordecai," though opinions differ as to exactly how drunk that is. A person certainly should not become so drunk that he might violate other commandments or get seriously ill. In addition, recovering alcoholics or others who might suffer serious harm from alcohol are exempt from this obligation.

 

[Hix]

This is the case, Purim is quite a happy festivle, everyone dresses up and gets rattlers and boo's whenever the Rabbi mentions Haman's name when reading the story

Oh yeah and we are to drink as Justin quoted till we cannot tell the difference between the righteousness of Modechai and the evil of Haman. It is the one day of the year Jews are permitted to get drunk, but it should be noted it is forbidden to get so drunk you cannot perform any set mitzvot.

Shalom and G-d bless!
~Hix~

 

[iitb]

The specific Talmudic reference, if you're interested, is Mas. Megilah 7b

Raba said: It is the duty of a man to mellow himself [with wine] on Purim until he cannot tell the difference between cursed be Haman’ and ‘blessed be Mordecai’

 

[flyfishing]

This is the case, Purim is quite a happy festivle, everyone dresses up and gets rattlers and boo's whenever the Rabbi mentions Haman's name when reading the story

Oh yeah and we are to drink as Justin quoted till we cannot tell the difference between the righteousness of Modechai and the evil of Haman. It is the one day of the year Jews are permitted to get drunk, but it should be noted it is forbidden to get so drunk you cannot perform any set mitzvot.

Shalom and G-d bless!
~Hix~

Thanks. everybody.. What is set mitzvot??

 

[Hix]

mitzvot = good deeds, ie following the Law/Torah. There are 613 mitzvot in the Tanach that are eternally binding. On Purim is no exception so one shouldnt get so drunk they are unable to perform the mitzvot.

Im actually pretty glad I dont drink

Shalom and G-d bless
~Hix~

 

[flyfishing]

mitzvot = good deeds, ie following the Law/Torah. There are 613 mitzvot in the Tanach that are eternally binding. On Purim is no exception so one shouldnt get so drunk they are unable to perform the mitzvot.

Im actually pretty glad I dont drink

Shalom and G-d bless
~Hix~

Thanks...

Shalom..

May thou be drunk with the knowledge of His love on the feast.. And every day..

 

[Multi-Elis]

By the way, the 17th century french playright Racine wrote a Tragedy about Esther. Probably his most beautiful piece. It's a tragedy in the sense that it deals with kings and queens, big "acts", fate, and a mournful tone in many places. The ending is as in the Bible. Really interesting, especially for me, since I used to act in comedies of Esther.