(ט) יַ֣יִן וְשֵׁכָ֞ר אַל־תֵּ֣שְׁתְּ ׀ אַתָּ֣ה ׀ וּבָנֶ֣יךָ אִתָּ֗ךְ בְּבֹאֲכֶ֛ם אֶל־אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵ֖ד וְלֹ֣א תָמֻ֑תוּ חֻקַּ֥ת עוֹלָ֖ם לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ (י) וּֽלֲהַבְדִּ֔יל בֵּ֥ין הַקֹּ֖דֶשׁ וּבֵ֣ין הַחֹ֑ל וּבֵ֥ין הַטָּמֵ֖א וּבֵ֥ין הַטָּהֽוֹר׃ (יא) וּלְהוֹרֹ֖ת אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֵ֚ת כָּל־הַ֣חֻקִּ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבֶּ֧ר יְהוָ֛ה אֲלֵיהֶ֖ם בְּיַד־מֹשֶֽׁה׃ (פ)
(9) Drink no wine or other intoxicant, you or your sons, when you enter the Tent of Meeting, that you may not die. This is a law for all time throughout the ages, (10) for you must distinguish between the sacred and the profane, and between the unclean and the clean; (11) and you must teach the Israelites all the laws which the LORD has imparted to them through Moses.
(א) יין ושכר. יַיִן דֶּרֶךְ שִׁכְרוּתוֹ (ספרא):
(1) ושכר יין [DO NOT DRINK] WINE NOR STRONG DRINK — do not drink wine in a manner that brings out its intoxicating force (i. e. do not drink a “log” of wine) (Sifra, Shemini, Section 1 1; Keritot 13b).
(א) ולהבדיל. כְּדֵי שֶׁתַּבְדִּילוּ בֵּין עֲבוֹדָה קְדוֹשָׁה לִמְחֻלֶּלֶת, הָא לָמַדְתָּ שֶׁאִם עָבַד עֲבוֹדָתוֹ פְסוּלָה (שם):
(1) ולהבדיל AND TO DISTINGUISH [BETWEEN THE HOLY AND THE UNHOLY] — i. e., Observe this law in order that ye may be able to distinguish between a holy (valid) sacrificial act and one which has become profane (invalid). Thus you may learn that if one performed a sacrificial rite in a state of intoxication his ministry was invalid (Sifra, Shemini, Section 1 8; Zevachim 17b).
(א) ולהורת. לִמֵּד שֶׁאָסוּר שִׁכּוֹר בְּהוֹרָאָה, יָכוֹל יְהֵא חַיָּב מִיתָה, תַּ"ל אַתָּה וּבָנֶיךָ אִתָּךְ, וְלֹא תָמֻתוּ, כֹּהֲנִים בַּעֲבוֹדָתָם בְּמִיתָה, וְאֵין חֲכָמִים בְּהוֹרָאָתָן בְּמִיתָה (שם):
(1) ולהורת AND TO TEACH [THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL] — This informs us that an intoxicated person is forbidden to pronounce religious decisions. One might think that if he does so he is liable to the death penalty! It, however, says: “[Do not drink wine] thou (Aaron), nor thy sons with thee … lest ye die” — priests when they minister in a state of intoxication are punishable by death, but the Sages when they thus render decisions are not punishable by death (Sifra, Shemini, Section 1 6).
In general, except for the regular Israelite who takes a voluntary, short-term Nazarite vow, there is no biblical or halakhic prohibition on drinking alcoholic beverages, provided they meet the standards of kashrut. Wine is used in rites of sanctification and holiness. Alcohol is commended as a beverage to bring or increase joy.
Private drunkenness never seems to be a major issue in the Torah. It's when intoxication leads to damage to others did it becomes a Torah matter. The rebellious son who is disrespectful to his parents, the judge who is not capable of rendering a competent decision or the priest who can't distinguish between the holy and the profane, these are the concerns of Torah.
Private drunkenness never seems to be a major issue in the Torah. It's when intoxication leads to damage to others did it becomes a Torah matter. The rebellious son who is disrespectful to his parents, the judge who is not capable of rendering a competent decision or the priest who can't distinguish between the holy and the profane, these are the concerns of Torah.
Shlomo Yitzchaki (Hebrew: רבי שלמה יצחקי) 22 February 1040 – 13 July 1105, today generally known by the acronym Rashi (Hebrew: רש"י, RAbbi SHlomo Itzhaki), was a medieval French rabbi and author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud and commentary on the Tanakh. Acclaimed for his ability to present the basic meaning of the text in a concise and lucid fashion, Rashi appeals to both learned scholars and beginner students, and his works remain a centerpiece of contemporary Jewish study.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rashi
Aaron and his sons were told not to drink wine even though they were grieving a deep loss. This was justified because they had to be sober to do their jobs. Do you feel this requirement was appropriate or that it went too far?
In what ways might drinking to excess cause public harm today ('public' being harm to anyone other than the individual drinking)?
What are the obligations and limitations of society when it comes to the overuse and abuse of alcohol, or any other intoxicant? Where do we draw the line between what is exclusively private and what is damaging to the community?
In what ways might drinking to excess cause public harm today ('public' being harm to anyone other than the individual drinking)?
What are the obligations and limitations of society when it comes to the overuse and abuse of alcohol, or any other intoxicant? Where do we draw the line between what is exclusively private and what is damaging to the community?