Before we drink, we ponder
Should we drink enough, as Rava taught,
To be left unable to tell the difference between
Cursed be Haman and Blessed be Mordechai?
Or should we drink,
As our turbaned teacher Maimonides
Instructs, “Don’t be stupid or wild,” just enough
To rejoice, to fall drunk, into deep illusive sleep?
Pray, please, we don’t drink enough
To act as Rabbah did with Reb Zeira.
The holy books record, Rabbah drank so much
He cut the throat of his companion. Talmudic yikes!
Rather, drink not to be unsteady
Drink only to be PurimLit. "Lots." A carnival holiday celebrated on the 14th of the Jewish month of Adar, commemorating the Jewish victory over the Persians as told in the Book of Esther. Purim is celebrated by reading the megilla (Book of Esther), exchanging gifts, giving money to the poor, and holding a festive meal. At the megilla reading, merrymakers are dressed in costumes, people drink, and noisemakers (graggers) are sounded whenever the villain Haman's name is mentioned. ready
Lift your glasses high and higher
Peering over your fruited rim
Glimpse another’s shining light, pointing,
Cajoling toward the ascending way
Clink your fragile glasses, ping,
Release each other’s unbreakable spirit.
Sip to lighten, to float above our trials,
Buoyed yet tethered, drink to go high and higher,
Way up there, commanded, inspired, entwined,
Happily, joyously, we choose: “To Life: L’chaim!”
References
Babylonian TalmudThe rabbinic compendium of lore and legend composed between 200 and 500 CE. Study of the Talmud is the focus of rabbinic scholarship. The Talmud has two versions, the main Babylonian version (Bavli) and the smaller Jerusalem version (Yerushalmi). It is written in Rabbinic Hebrew and Aramaic., MegillahLit. Scroll Usually refers specifically the Scroll of Esther (Megillat Esther) read on Purim, telling the story of how Esther saved the Jewish people. Megillat Ruth is read on Shavuot. 7b
Mishneh TorahThe Five Books of Moses, and the foundation of all of Jewish life and lore. The Torah is considered the heart and soul of the Jewish people, and study of the Torah is a high mitzvah. The Torah itself a scroll that is hand lettered on parchment, elaborately dressed and decorated, and stored in a decorative ark. It is chanted aloud on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbat, according to a yearly cycle. Sometimes "Torah" is used as a colloquial term for Jewish learning and narrative in general., Hil. Yom TovA festival or holiday. Most of the restrictions that apply on Shabbat also apply on a yom tov, with the exception of the prohibitions against cooking and carrying. 6:20
Mishneh Torah, Hil. Megillah ve-Chanukah 2:15
Deuteronomy 30:20
