OU TORAH NAALEH.COM and YU TORAH Insights into Intoxication By Shira Smiles

Summary by Channie Koplowitz Stein Most of us are familiar with the law that states, “A man should become intoxicated on Purim to the point of no longer being able to differentiate between ‘Cursed be Haman’ and ‘Blessed be Mordechai.’ ” The question arises as to why Purim is the only holiday for which we are commanded to drink wine, other than for Kiddush. After all, getting drunk is not the Jewish way of celebrating. The simplest reason for drinking wine on Purim is that wine and parties in which wine was a major component played a significant role in the entire Purim narrative, from Ahashuerosh’s parties at the beginning of the Purim narrative that Hashem faulted the Jews for attending to Esther’s parties tat the end that brought Haman’s downfall and our salvation.