In some religious cultures, the consumption of alcohol is banned completely. Such bans tend to focus on alcohol’s capacity to reduce self-control. This capacity makes alcohol a kind of “gateway drug” to other kinds of vice, the first step on a path that leads away from spirituality and godliness towards immorality, violence, and other kinds of antisocial behavior.

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“These days archbishops don’t do writers the great benefit of banning them from the pulpit, but a literary controversy does nearly as well as the archbishops of the past did in promoting a book,” he said. Schindler was forever changed in March 1943 by the brutality of the Nazis’ final “liquidation” of the Kraków ghetto. Those deemed able to work were transported to the nearby Płaszów labour camp. Thousands more who were considered unfit for work were either murdered in the streets or sent to the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp. To save his workers from the camps, Schindler turned to using his talent for corruption and deceit.

You are the High Priest, and you must be able to distinguish between holy places and unholy places, as well as between holy days and unholy days. (9) Drink no wine or other intoxicant, you or your sons, when you enter the Tent of Meeting, that you may not die. This is a law for all time throughout the ages, (10) for you must distinguish between the sacred and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean.

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The next year, he Rava said to him Rabbi Zeira “Come and let us make a Purim meal together.” He Rabi Zeira replied, “Not every time does a miracle occur.” Haman and Mordecai are the villain and hero, respectively, of the story recounted in the biblical Book of Esther. This story, in which Haman’s genocide of the Jews is narrowly averted by Mordecai’s intervention, is the holiday’s central narrative, and the basis for this annual festival of revelry. To drink until you can’t distinguish between the villain and the hero is to get very drunk indeed. Only 3% of Jewish Israelis were raised Hiloni (generally the least observant group) and have become more observant in adulthood. And fewer than 1% were Haredi (the most observant of the groups) and have become less observant over their lifetime.

In Orthodox Judaism, some rabbis argue that there can be exceptions to the rule banning the consumption of foods or beverages that are made of anything other than kosher ingredients. The belief is that if the portion of non-kosher ingredients in a food or beverage is less than 1 in 60, the non-kosher component is nullified. (Sanhedrin 70a) This alluring fruit opens new doors and new paths to awareness — but it is also deadly dangerous. Outside of those strict limitations, the taking of drugs is forbidden because they are injurious to physical or mental health.

Hizkiyah ben David DaSilva points out, if the story of Rabbah were meant to indicate that Rava’s rule had been rejected, then judaism and alcohol why would R. Clearly, R. Zeira expected that Rabbah would continue to drink heavily on Purim (Peri Hadash). Following this line of reasoning, the point of the story is that one should get drunk until one is “dead to the world.” Hopefully, one also has a friend who can nurse one back to sobriety, or at least back to consciousness. There are people who can help you with the struggle you’re facing. The destructive path of alcohol use does not spare the socio-economic structure of a family. Financial instability due to job loss, high medical costs, or other fallout from the disease can significantly stress a Jewish family, traditionally placing a high value on stability and prosperity.

• This is a law for all time throughout the ages, (10) for you must distinguish between the sacred and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean.
• Rabbi Juravel observes that even among seemingly acceptable beverages, mixers or additives that are not kosher may have been included in the blending or distilling process.
• His factory also produced ammunition shells to ensure it was regarded as a vital resource, and he listed the names, birthdates and skills of his Jewish workers, emphasising their importance to the Nazi war machine.
• Remaining sober in this way was considered one path to holiness.
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The stages depict the progression of the disease from occasional excessive drinking to the inability to function without alcohol. It is crucial to understand that excessive alcohol use is not a failure of will or lack of strength; it is a long-term brain disease that requires appropriate treatment. In Orthodox Judaism, drinking wine is no simpler than consuming distilled spirits. The laws of kosher stipulate that wine that is handled by a non-Jew is no longer kosher, so even wines that are indicated as being kosher may be unsuitable to drink. An exception to this rule relates to wine that has been heated to near boiling point, making the wine ‘meshuval’, or ‘cooked’, and any restrictions on its opening, handling or sharing disappear.

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• Following this line of reasoning, the point of the story is that one should get drunk until one is “dead to the world.” Hopefully, one also has a friend who can nurse one back to sobriety, or at least back to consciousness.
• Thus, through their traditions, Jews are systematically socialized to moderate drinking and sobriety.
• Schindler was forever changed in March 1943 by the brutality of the Nazis’ final “liquidation” of the Kraków ghetto.
• For example, in the study looking at alcohol and breast cancer risk, over 26,000 women with breast cancer were included from a variety of other studies looking at diet and health outcomes, in which alcohol intake was assessed.

A number of rabbis shared this opinion, writing in praise of tobacco’s benefits to human health. Some even wondered whether a blessing ought to be recited upon smoking, since the pleasure derived from it resembled that of eating, drinking, or the smelling of fragrances. Using drugs to cure illness or for pain relief is relatively uncontroversial in Jewish tradition, as preserving human health is considered of paramount importance. But using drugs as a spiritual aid presents a kind of intermediary question between pure recreation and physical healing. This kind of usage is not aimed at curing a physical ailment, nor is it aimed purely at enjoyment. As the aforementioned sources suggest, Jewish tradition is not opposed to using intoxicants to foster joy, even if drunkenness is portrayed negatively — and in the case of Maimonides, outright prohibited.

Wine

Imagine if you had cancer and someone asked you, on average over your entire life, how much alcohol you drank each week. Some might undercount their intake, while others might overcount. • Several cancers – but not all of them – have been linked to drinking. He was also the first to become intoxicated by its product, leading his children to uncover him sleeping naked. Noah’s resultant shame is construed as criticism of excessive drinking. Whether you’re studying times tables or applying to college, Classroom has the answers.

Remaining sober in this way was considered one path to holiness. And, indeed, there is an ascetic strain in Jewish tradition that shuns alcohol. At the same time, Judaism recognizes critical dangers of over-consumption. One of the most iconic images of prayer in the Hebrew is that of the childless Hannah, pouring her heart out to God as she furiously, restlessly begs for the ability to conceive. Her prayer is so passionate that a priest mistakes her for drunk. As of late 2022, marijuana is legal for medical use in a majority of U.S. states and more than a dozen other countries, and a growing number of states have legalized it for recreational use.

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Family support is beneficial not just to the person suffering from alcohol use disorder but also to the family itself. It allows the family to heal together, strengthen their bonds, and learn how to establish healthier patterns of interaction. By embracing their pivotal role in recovery, families can catalyze the healing process and contribute towards a brighter, healthier future for their loved ones. Judaism has a complex and often contradictory approach to the question of alcohol consumption, and its intricacies apply to every denomination of Judaism. While wine accompanies many ceremonies, including the Friday evening Sabbath dinner, weddings, circumcisions and passover, it is also recognized for its potentially destructive nature.

The drug with which traditional Jewish sources are most familiar is alcohol — and specifically wine, which has been used from ancient times through to the present day in a wide range of Jewish rituals. The weekly Sabbath and most Jewish holidays are begun with a blessing over wine. The holidays of Passover and Purim in particular feature significant consumption of alcohol. Marriage, circumcision, the Havdalah ceremony marking the end of Shabbat — all these involve the sacramental use of wine.

Most people assume that one must become so befuddled that one can no longer distinguish between the most wicked of people and the most righteous. Some, however, have noted that the two phrases, “arur Haman” and “barukh Mordekhai” have the same numerical value according to the traditional counting of the Hebrew letters called gematria (502). Are we to assume that people are sober enough to calculate the gematria of these phrases, but drunk enough to get the words confused because they have the same gematria?

This perspective drives the belief that dealing with alcohol dependency is a collective responsibility, not just the problem of the individual or family. Furthermore, several studies have challenged the assumption of lower alcoholic rates in the Jewish population. These studies have identified cultural and religious practices, genetic factors, and immigration stressors as some of the unique factors influencing alcohol use within Jewish communities. Therefore, the prevalence of alcohol drinking in Jewish individuals might be more nuanced than traditionally thought, warranting further research and understanding.

Aaron’s two sons were killed for officiating as priests while drunk. Likewise, judges were forbidden to sit in judgement if they were drunk. Wine destroys the understanding of him who drinks it, and he becomes mixed-up.