Machshavah Lab

My Current (Radical?) Understanding of the Mitzvah to Get Drunk on Purim

March 02, 2023 Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss Season 11 Episode 13
Machshavah Lab
My Current (Radical?) Understanding of the Mitzvah to Get Drunk on Purim
Show Notes

In lieu of tonight's (3/2/23) regularly scheduled Pirkei Avos shiur for women, I gave a special Purim shiur on a well-trodden topic. Each year I attempt to review ALL the halachic positions on Purim drunkenness, but only in the past couple of years have I formed my own view. In one sense, this is a synthesis of different ideas I've learned from various traditional sources. In another sense, it's a new approach inspired by a non-traditional source. Although I may have alluded to this view in various shiurim over the past 2.5 years, this is the first time I have presented it in its entirety. And if I may say so, I believe it was eye-opening for us all, and may very well change the way we see all the mitzvos of Purim. But you can be the judge of that.

UPDATE (3/3/23): Because this shiur was a bit long, I gave this shiur again the next day and managed to shrink it to nearly half the length. The difference is that last night we first learned through all the relevant sources about drinking INSIDE the text, whereas this morning I merely summarized them. Additionally, last night's shiur style was far more collaborative and I took up more questions, whereas my goal this morning was to convey the ideas as clearly and efficiently as possible.

Bottom Line: If you have the time, I recommend listening to the longer version, but if you're short on time OR if you're familiar with all the sources inside, then this version is for you.

Here's the link to the shorter version.
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מקורות:
מגילה דף ז עמוד ב; דף יד עמוד א
רש"י, רי"ף, מאירי, ר"ן, תוספות ד"ה דלא ידע בין ארור המן לברוך מרדכי
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר זמנים, הלכות מגילה וחנוכה ב:יד-טו
רא"ש - מסכת מגילה פרק א סימן ח
טור - ארבעה טורים: אורח חיים תרצה:א-ב
בעל המאור – המאור הקטן מגילה ג עמוד ב
ספר כלבו סימן מה / אורחות חיים חלק א הלכות מגלה ופורים
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר הפלאה, הלכות נזירות א:יב
רמב"ם - משנה תורה: ספר קנין, הלכות מכירה כט:יח
ראבי"ה חלק ב - מסכת מגילה סימן תקסד
ספר מהרי"ל (מנהגים) הלכות פורים
ספר אבודרהם פורים
ר' יוסף קארו – שולחן ערוך אורח חיים תרצה:א-ב עם הגה
רמב"ם – משנה תורה: ספר המדע, הלכות דעות ה:ג
רמב"ם - מורה הנבוכים ג:ח
רמב"ם – משנה תורה: ספר זמנים, הלכות שביתת יום טוב ו:כ
אסתר ט:טו-כב
ספורנו, שד"ל, ר' דוד צבי הופמן - בראשית יט:ג
ר' י"ש ריגייו – אסתר סוף פרק ט
רמב"ם – משנה תורה: ספר אהבה, הלכות תפילה וברכת כהנים ד:יז
תהלים קו:לה
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The Torah content for the rest of Adar has been sponsored by my friend and chavrusa Zack, with the following dedicatory message: When asked, "Who is a leader you greatly admire?" my grandfather z”l immediately comes to mind. Each person who entered his presence was brought closer to a better version of themselves. This was due to his staunch belief in people and his uncompromising values. Knowledge is similar — it is indiscriminate and uncompromising in its power to help us become our best selves. Thank you Rabbi Schneeweiss for spreading knowledge, and may the memory of my grandfather, Naftali ben Tzvi, be a blessing.
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