We should also make the farbrengen joyful in a physical sense, by providing food and drink – “bread that satiates the heart of man,” and especially the kind of food and drink that naturally causes joy.
Great Joy, Little Mashkeh
Needless to say, the participants of these farbrengens should drink within the established limit of four shot glasses (of alcoholic beverage) – small shot glasses at that – and even this amount should not be drunk if it will “go to your head.”
Why Stress Physical Food in a Spiritual Celebration?
Chassidus explains that it is specifically the greatest of spiritual rungs which are able to manifest themselves within the most mundane realms. In this case, the mazal (the supernal source of the Jewish soul, which is most effective on one’s birthday) is so extremely lofty, that it can even be elicited and revealed (and yet retain its spiritual potency) in the very lowest of levels and matters that concern one’s corporeal body (imbuing even physical food and drink with sanctity).
Not More Than Four
There is no need to elaborate on a matter that is straightforward and understood even by the most simple-minded, who, were they not specifically informed, may have otherwise assumed that things should be done differently. (i.e., that it is permissible to drink in excess of the Rebbe’s “decree” of not drinking more than four shot glasses). Don’t be more righteous than the Rebbe. (They would have justified their drinking, claiming that drinking more than four shot glasses was necessary to indicate their participation in simchah shel mitzvah – “the joy of a mitzvah,” which they are ready to celebrate to an immeasurably greater extent than that which they were instructed by Chassidic elders – Ziknei HaMashpi’im – even “outdoing” the clear and explicit instruction of the Leader of this Generation not to drink more than four shots…)
