As Purim approaches, we encounter a Talmudic conundrum:
” target=”_blank” title=”wikipedia”>Rabbah arose and slaughtered ” target=”_blank” title=”wikipedia”>Rambam (the great rabbi/philosopher/doctor, Moses Maimonides) says one should simply drink more than usual – just enough so we fall asleep and thus can’t tell the difference between “Cursed is Haman, etc.”
Rav Ephraim says the story was included by the original editors of the Talmud in order to disprove Rava’s declaration that one must get drunk. But the ” target=”_blank” title=”wikipedia”>Maharsha says it was the intoxication itself which caused Rav Zeira’s near-death experience. Thus, after Rabbah plowed him with wine, he prayed that his friend would recover, and so he did.
But, according to the Lubavitcher Rebbe, ” target=”_blank” title=”Rabbi Pinchas Winston on Nadav and Avihu”>Nadav and Avihu, who entered the Holy Sanctuary while intoxicated (Vayikra Rabbah 12:1) and expired as a result. They too appear to have behaved inappropriately, yet Moses himself praises them (Leviticus 10:3).
OK, are we closer to understanding our conundrum, or even more confused? The answer can be found back on Day 283 of our Daf Yomi cycle at Eruvin 65a: “When wine enters, secrets come out.” These secrets are not your nasty college exploits but rather hidden meanings of Torah. If you drink the right amount and for the right reason, wine will help you uncover mystical secrets. Few people, however, have the capacity to drink just the right amount, and perhaps fewer still can maintain their holy intent once they’re nicely intoxicated.
Rabbah was able to use wine correctly because he had the right constitution and a mighty intellect. Rav Zeira preferred to plumb the depths of Torah in other ways. He gave Rabbah’s method a try one year and it nearly killed him. So the following year he politely declined.
May we all merit to find our own best ways to learn, and may we all occasionally step out of our comfort zones for the sake of Heaven.
Happy Purim!
Sal shares a bit of Jewish wisdom at “>accidentaltalmudist.org.
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