When Wine Enters:
Sefer Sichasan Shel Avdei Avos (Chelek 1, page 69) relates that when Rav Nosson Dovid of Shidlovtza zy”a once came to visit the Sanzer Rov zy”a on Purim, the Rov gave him son wine to drink. However, his son declined the offer because doctors had told him that drinking wine was bad for his health. Rav Nosson Dovid got angry at the boy and said, “Even if the Rov gave me poison to drink, I would drink it without a moment’s delay!”
When Adar Arrives Joy Increases:
Sefer Siach Sarfei Kodesh writes that on Purim the Avnei Nezer zy”a would relate the story of a wagon driver from Krakow who was accustomed to drinking a lot of whiskey and getting drunk two weeks before Purim and two weeks after Purim. He explained his conduct by saying, “How could Haman intend to kill all of the Jews on one day? What if some of them would hide in bunkers and caves and would only be found later? He should have made the decree for the entire month of Adar!“ The wagon driver would answer, “This was part of Haman’s wickedness. He knew that Hashem might save the Jews and they would make a yomtov to celebrate their salvation. He didn’t want us to have more than one day of celebration, so he refused to make the decree for more than one day. But because I know his true intentions, and I know that he really would have needed a full month to kill all of the Jews, I celebrate Purim for a full month.”
Appeasing Hashem With Wine:
Sefer Noam Siach (page 230) relates that Rav Aharon Yeshaya of Hadas zy”a would daven Minchah at the earliest possible zeman – half-an-hour after midday – and he would then sit down by his table to drink wine. He would drink a lot and become very joyful. One year, he said in the middle of his seudah, “Purim is such a great day that we can ‘bribe Hashem’ with a glass of wine.” It was known that this was an auspicious time to ask the Rebbe for brachos. People would come to him with kvitlach from far and wide and he would tearfully read the kvitlach. At the end of his seudah, he would dance and sing “Anenu” to the famous tune composed by the Kaliver Rebbe with the words “golus, golus.“
Mesiras Nefesh for this Mitzvah:
Sefer Otzar Yisroel (page 245) writes that the minhag of Rav Levi Yitzchok of Berditchov zy”a was to place a barrel on his table on Purim. Everyone would bring drinks and pour them into this barrel, creating a strong mixture of all types of wine and whiskey, which was very intoxicating. Rav Levi Yitzchok would then say that his Rebbi, the Magid of Mezheritzh zy”a, said that he had a student who knew how to “arrange the letters” as they were used to create Heaven and earth, just like Betzalel (who used this esoteric secret to build the Mishkan.)”He was referring to me,” Rav Levi Yitzchok would say. “It really is a shame to cloud this mind, but since Chazal say that one is obligated to get drunk on Purim, I need to do this with mesiras nefesh.” He would then drink from the barrel.
Drinking Like a Jew:
Rav Yochanon of Stolin zy”a (quoted in Sefer Birchas Aharon, page 228) said, “It says that one is obligated to drink on Purim, but one still must drink like a Yid. There are people who drink and say good things, while others drink and need to be dragged through the streets.“
Accomplishing Like on Yom Kippur:
The Sefas Emes (Purim 5635) writes: “Purim is like ‘Yom Kippurim’. On Yom Kippur, we are on a level of being above nature because we do not eat and drink. In the merit of fasting and afflicting our bodies, we are able to reach ‘the world of freedom’ and our sins are forgiven. On Purim, we can reach this level through feasting and rejoicing. This is not as a result of our own actions. Rather, it is a gift from Hashem. What we accomplish on Yom Kippur through fasting, we can accomplish on Purim through eating and drinking.”
All Requests are Granted:
The pasuk states (Esther 2:2) that the king said to Esther at the feast of wine, “What is your request and I will give it to you.” The Kotzker Rebbe zy”a (quoted in Sefer Amud Emes) states that this is a hint that Klal Yisroel is not only answered when they daven. We are also answered when we engage in holy forms of rejoicing. When Yidden gather to drink and be happy together, “the King” (Hashem) tells “Esther” (Klal Yisroel) that He will fulfill all of our requests. The Munkatcher Rebbe zy”a writes similarly (Shaar Yissochor, Chodesh Adar, Maamaer Yemei Sason, Ois 57) that tzadikim explains the pasuk (Esther 5:6): “And the king said to Esther at the feast of wine what is your request, Esther, and I will give it to you” to mean that Hashem tells Klal Yisroel that when they feast and drink on Purim, He will fulfill all of their requests.
Healed Through Wine:
One Purim, the daughter of one of the chassidim of Rav Elimelech of Karlin zy”a became sick. The young men went to call a doctor, and, on the way, went to see the Rebbe. The Karliner Rebbe said to him, “You think that you need a doctor on Purim? On Purim, mashkeh is a cure for everything!” He gave the man a little wine and told him to give it to his daughter to drink and not to call the doctor. He gave her a few sips of wine, and she was instantly healed.
Transforming the Prosecutor Into the Defender:
Sefer Imrei Noam (Parshas Terumah) explains Chazal’s statement that one is obligated to celebrate on Purim until he doesn’t know the difference between “cursed is Haman and blessed is Mordechai” by saying in the name of Sefarim Hakedoshim that through rejoicing with wine on Purim, one can attain levels of loftiness that are so great that they transform the prosecuting forces into defenders. Thus, there is no difference between “Haman and Mordechai”, as even the forces of harm become his friends.
A Holy Mitzvah:
Rav Tzadok of Lublin zy”a (Machshavos Charitz, Ois 9) writes that all seudos and celebrations made by Yidden on Purim are holy. Even though it looks like “there is no difference between Haman and Mordechai”, meaning that it appears as if the Jews are celebrating the same way non-Jews celebrate, since this feast is a mitzvah, it is full of holiness.
No Need for Hishtadlus on This Day:
Rav Tzadok of Lublin zy”a writes (in Sefer Resisei Layla, Ois 31) that on Purim, we merit receiving a great light, which is akin to the light of Shabbos, which is akin to the light of Olam Haba. When we have this light, there is no need for us to do any hishtadlus. He can simply bask in holiness. Therefore, there is no need to do any work on Purim. Instead, we are able to drink as much as we desire and we still receive abundant goodness. We are just like someone who wins the lottery without having to put forth any effort to make a living.
Giving Wine to the Fiddle:
Sefer Raza D’Uvda (page 118) relates that one year on Purim, Rav Mordchele of Nadvorna zy”a drank quite a bit of wine and was completely immersed in his holy thoughts. He then asked someone to bring him a fiddle. In all probability, he did not know how to play it (as the custom to play this instrument only began with his son), and he was unable to play the tuner he wanted. He jokingly said, “Maybe the fiddle’s throat is stuffed. Perhaps it needs some wine to clear its throat!” The chasidim poured some wine into the fiddle, as the Rebbe requested. Of course, this didn’t make it work any better. The Rebbe sat down on the couch and tried again to play it, but it still didn’t produce the tune he wanted. He then asked for a chair to be placed on the couch. He stood up on the chair and began singing and dancing enthusiastically while holding the fiddle, until all the strings were broken. He was so immersed in his dveikus that he didn’t even realize it. He had removed himself completely from the physically world. Later, he reimbursed the owner of the fiddle and asked for it to be burned in the fire during the baking of the matzohs.
Haman Wanted to Ruin Our Simcha:
When Rav Heschel of Krakow zy”a was a young boy, he was already known as a brilliant child. Someone once asked him at the Purim seudah, “Why is Haman the only one who is referred to with the tile of ‘the rasha’. There were many other Jew haters who wanted to destroy us. Why is only he given this appellation?” The boy began to laugh and he answered, “Haman was a bigger rasha than all of the other antisemites. When he wanted to destroy us all on one day, he should have planned to do it on Tisha B’Av, which is a day that is established for sadness and mourning. Why did he plan it for Purim, which is a day of joy? The answer is that he was such a rasha that he wanted to disturb our celebration of Purim with his decree.”
