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 is Increased:
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.’
‘Bribing 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.’
Like 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.’
At the Purim Seudah, One’s 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 (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 Minkatcher 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.
Healing 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.
No Hishtadlus Needed 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.