Q&A: Drinking Wine

I wanted to ask, what should I do on Purim since I don’t really like wine?

Purim Is Coming Soon – What Do I Do?

5. Purim Ha-meshulash

Chapter 17: Walled and Unwalled Cities

When the fifteenth falls out on Shabbat, Purim in that year is called Purim Ha-meshulash (“Triple Purim”), because its mitzvot are divided over three days.

4. Traveling between Walled and Unwalled Cities

Chapter 17: Walled and Unwalled Cities

Since Purim is celebrated in unwalled cities on the fourteenth and in walled cities on the fifteenth, many questions arise regarding one who travels from an unwalled city to Jerusalem, or vice versa.

3. Uncertain Places

Chapter 17: Walled and Unwalled Cities

Most uncertain places today rely on the lenient opinion and celebrate Purim exclusively on the fourteenth. Only in places where the likelihood that it was truly a walled city is greater, like in Tiberias and Hebron, do many people customarily read the Megilla on the fifteenth as well.

1. What Is a Walled City?

Chapter 17: Walled and Unwalled Cities

Most places celebrate on the fourteenth of Adar, whereas Shushan, along with cities that were surrounded by walls at the time of Yehoshua bin Nun, celebrate on the fifteenth of Adar.

2. Jerusalem and Its Environs

Chapter 17: Walled and Unwalled Cities

The Sages said: “A walled city and all that adjoins it and all that is visible with it are reckoned as a walled city” Therefore, not only do the residents of the Old City of Jerusalem celebrate Purim on the fifteenth of Adar, but so do the residents of all the neighborhoods adjacent to the Old City.

16. Costumes and the Prohibition of Lo Yilbash

Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness

Many people customarily wear masks and costumes on Purim. Even though there is no source for this in the writings of the Sages, and the Aĥaronim did not write that one must wear costumes, various reasons have been given for the custom.

15. Scheduling the Se’uda when Purim is on Friday

Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness

When Purim falls out on Friday, it is customary, le-khatĥila, to begin the meal before the afternoon, in honor of Shabbat. Alternatively, there is a custom to combine the Purim meal with the first Shabbat meal on Friday night.

14. Can a Drunk or Tipsy Person Recite Berakhot and Pray Ma’ariv?

Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness

On Purim, a drunk person may recite all Birkhot Ha-nehenin, Birkat Ha-mazon, and Asher Yatzar. One who is tipsy or drunk after finishing the meal must wait to pray Ma’ariv until he is sober and able to pray with a clear mind.

13. When to Eat the Festive Meal

Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness

Most Jews begin the Purim meal in the afternoon, after praying Minĥa. Some people start the meal very late, just before shki’a, eating most of the meal after dark. Many authorities question this practice, as the mitzva is to eat the meal on Purim.

12. The Meaning of the Mitzva of Drinking

Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness

Both in Tanakh and in rabbinic literature, it is made clear that drunkenness is disgraceful and liable to bring one to sin. Why, then, are we commanded to get drunk on Purim?

11. Laws of Drinking

Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness

One fulfills his obligation to drink on Purim with any intoxicating beverage. However, it is preferable to drink wine, because the miracle came about through wine. It is a mitzva even for women to drink a lot of wine that brings joy on Purim. However, they must be careful not to get drunk. If one knows that when he gets drunk he goes wild and hurts others, or he ends up wallowing in his own vomit and degrading himself in public, he should not get drunk.

9. The Mitzva to Rejoice and Eat a Se’uda

Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness

We are commanded to observe Purim as a day of feasting and joy. Even though the mitzva of rejoicing continues throughout the night and day of Purim, it reaches its climax at the se’uda, the festive meal.

10. The Mitzva to Drink

Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness

On Purim, there is an explicit mitzva to drink a lot. Therefore, the Sages said, “A person is obligated to get drunk on Purim until he does not know the difference between ‘Cursed is Haman’ and ‘Blessed is Mordechai’”.

7. The Proper Time for Matanot La-evyonim and Mishlo’ach Manot

Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness

One must send mishlo’aĥ manot and give matanot la-evyonim on Purim day. If one cannot find poor people to receive matanot la-evyonim on Purim, he should set aside his gifts and save them until he finds poor people

8. Between Mishlo’ah Manot and Matanot La-evyonim

Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness

The mitzva of mishlo’aĥ manot is designed to increase love and harmony between fellow Jews. Therefore, one who sends mishlo’aĥ manot to his friend anonymously does not fulfill his obligation. Matanot la-evyonim, on the other hand, is like charity and is designed to help the poor in the best possible manner. Therefore, when possible, it is preferable to give matanot la-evyonim anonymously.

6. Who Is Obligated in Mishlo’ach Manot and Matanot La-evyonim?

Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness

Every Jew is obligated in mishlo’aĥ manot and matanot la-evyonim. Even though women are ordinarily exempt from positive time-bound mitzvot, they must fulfill the mitzvot of Purim, since they too participated in the miracle. Even a married woman must fulfill these mitzvot.

4. Mishlo’ach Manot

Chapter 16: The Mitzvot of Joy and Kindness

Every person must send two gifts of food to a friend on Purim, in order to increase love between them. Increasing love between Jews is part of the essence of Purim, as it was on Purim that the Jewish people’s holiness was revealed.