Like Anonymous from London, I find myself very critical of people who justify drinking for celebratory reasons, or for "relaxation", etc. I also recommend that you read Can Wine Be Holy? Even today, priests may not bless the congregation after having even a single glass of wine.Ĭlick here for more about wine and intoxication. On the practical side, we are forbidden to pray while drunk and priests were not allowed to serve in the Holy Temple whilst drunk. A person who is in an "escapist" mode is a dangerous person, because very often he is also escaping many of the rules that he would be wise to follow. On the other hand, getting drunk in order to escape responsibilities we have to ourselves, to our families, and to those around us, is highly destructive. This obviously applies only when one drinks in moderation, and on special, holy occasions in an attempt to make them a bit more festive and to introduce an inspirational ambiance. After taking a l'chaim one is more easily inspired, because the body offers less resistance. This "weakening of the body" allows the soul to shine through. Wine's ability to bring joy is because it relaxes our inhibitions and weakens the body's natural defenses. As we mentioned earlier, according to one opinion, the Tree of Knowledge was a grape vine-and the Tree of Knowledge is dubbed by the Torah as being "good and bad." It has tremendous potential, when utilized properly, and a drawback of equal proportion, if misused and abused. So what is wine? Is it a holy beverage with immense powers, reserved for holy and special occasions? Or is it a destructive agent with the power to bring down mighty people a substance to be avoided at all costs? The Torah extols the virtue, courage, and holiness of the Nazirite who vows to abstain from wine. Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's two holy sons, entered the Tabernacle while drunk and were consumed by a fire that emanated from the heavens. The righteous Noah, whose righteousness caused G‑d to spare the human race, was disgraced by excessive wine consumption. Thus it was the fruit of the vine that tripped up Adam and Eve, causing them and their descendents untold hardship and misery. Several examples:Īccording to an opinion expressed in the Talmud, the "Tree" of Knowledge was actually a grapevine.
Because wine is considered to be the "king of beverages" the rabbis coined a special blessing to be recited exclusively on wine: the Hagafen blessing.Īnd let us not forget the venerated age-old Jewish custom to say l'chaim and wish each other well over a shot glass of schnapps.Ĭonversely, we are told of the destructive nature of wine and intoxication. And, indeed, every sacrifice offered in the Holy Temple was accompanied by a wine libation. In the Scriptures, wine is described as "bringing joy to G‑d and man" ( Judges 9:13). Blessings are recited on a cup of wine beneath the chupah (wedding canopy), at a circumcision, at a Pidyon Haben (the "Redemption of a Firstborn Son"), and let's not forget the four cups of wine we drink at the Passover seder. On one hand, we use wine for kiddush and havdallah on Shabbat and Jewish holidays, and many, many mitzvot are accompanied by a cup of wine.
Well I do all kinds of various things, every new sip takes a different course, I also swish a little now and then.Wine and intoxicating beverages are a fascinating subject when viewed from the Torah's perspective. Instead I sip and let the whisky spread out over my tounge and let it play more between the tounge and roof and then slowly let the excess liquid slide back and swallow.
#SWISH ALCOHOL ANDROID#
But I excrete saliva like an alien queen, and the tastes disappear as quick as colonial marines with nothing but flame throwers (to continue the analogy), and the only thing left in the finish is a bitter Sigourney Weaver and slimy white android body fluids spattered on the walls. Ok, I would never waste the precious stuff by just swallow straight away. I actually tast less, and it spoils the finish a bit too. For me swishing absolutely drowns the whisky.
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