The Mechaber in Shulchan Aruch (OC 695:2) famously writes:
.מרדכי לברוך המן ארור בין ידע דלא עד בפוריא לבסומי איניש חייב
A person should drink on Purim until he cannot distinguish between “accursed is Haman” and “blessed is Mordechai.”
The Rema, whose rulings Ashkenazic Jews follow, comments:
ויש אומרים דאינו צריך להשתכר כל כך, אלא שישתה יותר מלמודו ויישן, ומתוך שישן אינו יודע בין ארור המן לברוך מרדכי.
Some say it is not necessary to become so intoxicated, but rather to drink more than one is accustomed to and to fall asleep. While asleep, one does not know the difference between “accursed is Haman” and “blessed is Mordechai.”
In terms of practical pesak, there is no unanimous consensus among the poskim, and it’s not a one-word answer. There is much to factor in from both a halachic and a hashkafic perspective. Yet, it is noteworthy to keep the following anecdote in mind:
Once, someone asked Rav Itzle Peterberger, one of the most well-known protegés of Rav Yisroel Salanter, why we can’t follow the lenient opinion of the Rema: just drink a little, go to sleep, and call it a day. In response, Rav Itzele, uncharacteristically for a revered baal mussar, answered as follows: “The entire destruction, the calamity of the story of Purim, happened because of abstaining from a leniency. Mordechai HaTzaddik didn’t bow down to Haman, even though Tosfos in Shabbos says that halachically he was allowed to be lenient and bow down because of fear. If Mordechai had bowed down, the entire story of Purim would never have happened. The connection, the growth, the levels we’ve attained would never have occurred. How can you be lenient on Purim?”
Drinking wine on Purim is cited l’halachah both by the Mechaber and the Rema. Whatever opinion you decide to follow, as the Gemara in Berachos 5b relates: “אחד המרבה ואחד הממעיט, ובלבד שיכוין לבו לשמים — One who increases and one who decreases [are equal], as long as his heart is directed towards Heaven.” The main thing is to use the wine, the intoxication, as a conduit for holiness and closeness to Hashem, to tap into the true happiness of the day, and to strive for more dveikus with Hashem in our lives and ascend to a realm where we can more clearly perceive His Divine Providence and the ceaseless miracles He performs for us.
While it is important to work on ourselves, there is also a great emphasis on bein adam l’chaveiro on this day. All the mitzvos of the day revolve around doing for, giving to, and helping others. The sefarim hakedoshim point out that, rearranged, the rashei teivos of “נדכי ישראל יכנס, the outcasts of Israel He will gather in” are יין. Through wine, by letting loose at least a little bit, besides connecting and uplifting ourselves, we can also connect with others, lift them, and inspire them.
I hope that you read this before you begin fulfilling the mitzvah of חייב איניש לבסומי so that while you are in “that spot,” you can accomplish so much for yourself and for others.
RABBI DON JARASHOW
