A Person Should Drink Just Enough Wine to Expand His Consciousness In the realm of holiness, there are two complementary energies: chesed (lovingkindness) and gevurah (strictness). These energies are mirrored in the realm of impurity. When a person engages properly in a limited amount of drinking to broaden his awareness, his mind expands and rises, and the dynamic of holy lovingkindness expands. The spirit of Moses exists in a Jew’s every limb, reminding it to perform the mitzvah connected to it. That spirit is attuned to a measured amount of drinking, granting a person enhanced spiritual awareness clothed in the dynamic of lovingkindness. But if a person drinks more than he can handle and grows intoxicated, then the dynamic of strictness that comes from the Side of Evil intensifies. Then he can grow angry and forget all of the mitzvot that Moses commanded the Jews. For the Seventh of Adar, the Hilula of Moses
Drinking Wine to Elevate Our Mind “Draw me, we will run after you. The king brought me into his chambers. We will rejoice and be glad in you. We will recall your love, more fragrant than wine. You have been loved sincerely.”
Master of the world, great in kindness and performing vast goodness, have compassion on me. Help me truly come close to You at every moment. May I always serve You with joy and with a glad heart, out of an abundance of everything.
In Your vast compassion, guard me. Rescue me at every moment from drinking too much wine and other intoxicating beverages, so that I will never over-drink and never get drunk.
As a result of being drunk, people forget all of the admonitions of Moses, who is contained within a Jew’s every limb, reminding and urging each limb to guard, perform and uphold every mitzvah related to it; thus, there are 248 limbs corresponding to the 248 positive commandments.
But when people get drunk, Heaven forbid, they forget all of these admonitions, and all roads appear straight and clear to them, may the Compassionate One protect us. As the verse states, “When a person turns his gaze to the wine cup, [his behavior] appears blameless to him.”
“Who cries, ‘Woe!’ Who, ‘Alas!’…Who has bloodshot eyes?” “Those who sit late over wine, those who come to search for mixed wine.” “Ultimately, it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.” “Your eyes will gaze at unsuitable women and your heart will speak in confusion.” “You will be like a person lying in the heart of the sea and like a person lying at the top of the mast.”
You Who are filled with compassion, You know how many souls have sunken into the thick mire as a result of drunkenness, may the Compassionate One protect us, losing both worlds as a result.
In Your vast compassion, help us appraise the proper measure so that we will drink only the small amount necessary, in accordance with Your will, to elevate our mind and broaden our intellect and heart, since “wine cheers the heart of man.”
In that way, as a result of drinking a little, may we broaden and enhance the lovingkindness in which our mind is contained, so that as a result of a small amount of drinking, we will truly attain joy and a good heart, and truly cling to You.
As a result, may we recall ever more clearly all of the admonitions in every limb with which Moses admonishes us, so that we will be more inspired to uphold all of the mitzvot that are related to each limb.
Open my heart to Your Torah. May my spirit pursue Your mitzvot. May I come ever closer to You as a result of drinking as I truly cling to You, in accordance with Your good will.
When I drink wine in great holiness, may I truly be in accordance with Your good will. May breadth of consciousness and lovingkindness related to Your awareness, my Creator, be drawn onto me. May I truly honor You, HaShem, with my money and with my praise of You.
Drinking the Right Amount Master of the world, You know that although drunkenness is immeasurably reprehensible, nevertheless, at times a person must drink a little in order to broaden his mind.
The true sages informed us that drunkenness, which is associated with the Side of Evil, is disgraceful, whereas drinking in a holy way for the sake of Your Name is exalted.
Our sages said, “If a person is meritorious, [drinking wine] makes him joyful. But if he is not meritorious, it destroys him…If he is meritorious, he becomes a leader. But if he is not meritorious, he becomes impoverished.”
We are obligated to make Kiddush and Havdalah over wine on the Shabbat and festivals, and to recite the Grace after Meals over a cup of wine, because we recite song only over wine, which “gladdens God and men.”
Therefore, have compassion on us for the sake of Your Name. May I, all of my friends, and Your entire nation, the Jewish people — each person on his level — always know the right amount of wine to drink, so that we will be completely removed from drunkenness.
When it is Your will to gladden us with Your good wine, give us the strength and guard us so that we will not drink too much, but only the little amount necessary to gladden our soul, broaden our mind, and enhance the energies of lovingkindness.
May we never, as a result of drinking, experience any anger, judgment or harshness, Heaven forbid. To the contrary, as a result of our small amount of drinking, may we be increasingly drawn to holy lovingkindness, with true joy and a good heart, in accordance with Your good will.
May we truly cling to You. May we rejoice, sing and be glad in Your Name with joy and song, and speak words of Torah, saying what needs to be said and disclosed, with an expansive heart and with joy.
Place a muzzle to our mouths so that we will not be like someone “who goes as a talebearer revealing a secret,” and not disclose what should not be disclosed, Heaven forbid.
Open our mouths with song and praises to Your great and holy Name, in accordance with Your good will. May the verse be realized in us, “Your palate is like the best wine, gliding down smoothly to my beloved, making the lips of the sleeping speak.”
May our every action — eating, sleeping and other necessary activities — be in accordance with Your good will. May I do everything in truly the best way, truly in accordance with Your good will at that time.
[עַל־פִּי תּוֹרָה כ"ו - צָרִיךְ לְהַרְחִיק מִשִּׁכְרוּת]
לְז' אֲדָר הִילּוּלָא דְּמֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ ע"ה
A Person Should Drink Just Enough Wine to Expand His Consciousness
In the realm of holiness, there are two complementary energies: chesed (lovingkindness) and gevurah (strictness). These energies are mirrored in the realm of impurity.
When a person engages properly in a limited amount of drinking to broaden his awareness, his mind expands and rises, and the dynamic of holy lovingkindness expands.
The spirit of Moses exists in a Jew’s every limb, reminding it to perform the mitzvah connected to it. That spirit is attuned to a measured amount of drinking, granting a person enhanced spiritual awareness clothed in the dynamic of lovingkindness.
But if a person drinks more than he can handle and grows intoxicated, then the dynamic of strictness that comes from the Side of Evil intensifies. Then he can grow angry and forget all of the mitzvot that Moses commanded the Jews.
For the Seventh of Adar, the Hilula of Moses
מָשְׁכֵנִי אַחֲרֶיךָ נָרוּצָה, הֱבִיאֲנִי הַמֶּלֶךְ חֲדָרָיו נָגִילָה וְנִשְׂמְחָה בָּךְ, נַזְכִּירָה דֹדֶיךָ מִיַּיִן מֵישָׁרִים אֲהֵבוּךָ.
Drinking Wine to Elevate Our Mind
“Draw me, we will run after you. The king brought me into his chambers. We will rejoice and be glad in you. We will recall your love, more fragrant than wine. You have been loved sincerely.”
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, רַב חֶסֶד וּמַרְבֶּה לְהֵיטִיב, רַחֵם עָלַי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, וְזַכֵּנִי לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ בֶּאֱמֶת בְּכָל עֵת וְלַעֲבֹד אוֹתְךָ תָמִיד בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְטוּב לֵבָב מֵרוֹב כֹּל.
Master of the world, great in kindness and performing vast goodness, have compassion on me. Help me truly come close to You at every moment. May I always serve You with joy and with a glad heart, out of an abundance of everything.
וְתִשְׁמֹר אוֹתִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, וְתַצִּילֵנִי בְּכָל עֵת מֵרִבּוּי שְׁתִיַּת הַיַּיִן וּשְׁאָר מַשְׁקִים הַמְשַׁכְּרִים, שֶׁלֹּא אֶשְׁתֶּה לְעוֹלָם יוֹתֵר מֵהַמִּדָּה וְלֹא אָבוֹא לִידֵי שִׁכְרוּת לְעוֹלָם,
In Your vast compassion, guard me. Rescue me at every moment from drinking too much wine and other intoxicating beverages, so that I will never over-drink and never get drunk.
כִּי אַתָּה גִּלִּיתָ לָנוּ עֹצֶם רָעַת הַשִּׁכְרוּת הַמַּטְרִיד וּמַעֲבִיר אֶת הָאָדָם מִשְּׁנֵי עוֹלָמוֹת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם,
You have revealed to us the great evil of intoxication, which perturbs a person and deprives him of both worlds, Heaven forbid.
כִּי עַל־יְדֵי שִׁכְרוּת שׁוֹכְחִין אֶת כָּל הָאַזְהָרוֹת שֶׁל מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, שֶׁהוּא מְלֻבָּשׁ אֶצְלֵינוּ בְּכָל אֵבֶר וָאֵבֶר אֵצֶל כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל, וּמַזְכִּיר וּמַזְהִיר אֶת כָּל אֵבֶר וְאֵבֶר לִשְׁמֹר וְלַעֲשׂוֹת וּלְקַיֵּם אֶת כָּל הַמִּצְוָה הַשַּׁיָּכָה לְכָל אֵבֶר וָאֵבֶר, שֶׁהֵם רְמַ"ח אֵיבָרִים כְּנֶגֶד רְמַ"ח מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂה.
As a result of being drunk, people forget all of the admonitions of Moses, who is contained within a Jew’s every limb, reminding and urging each limb to guard, perform and uphold every mitzvah related to it; thus, there are 248 limbs corresponding to the 248 positive commandments.
וְעַל־יְדֵי הַשִּׁכְרוּת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, שׁוֹכְחִין כָּל אֵלּוּ הָאַזְהָרוֹת, וְכָל הַדְּרָכִים נַעֲשִׂים לְפָנָיו כְּמִישׁוֹר רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, כִּי יִתֵּן בַּכּוֹס עֵינוֹ יִתְהַלֵּךְ בְּמֵישָׁרִים.
But when people get drunk, Heaven forbid, they forget all of these admonitions, and all roads appear straight and clear to them, may the Compassionate One protect us. As the verse states, “When a person turns his gaze to the wine cup, [his behavior] appears blameless to him.”
וְנֶאֱמַר, לְמִי אוֹי לְמִי אֲבוֹי, לְמִי חַכְלִילוּת עֵינָיִם, לַמְאַחֲרִים עַל הַיָּיִן, לַבָּאִים לַחְקוֹר מִמְסָךְ. אַחֲרִיתוֹ כְּנָחָשׁ יִשָּׁךְ וּכְצִפְעֹנִי יַפְרִישׁ. עֵינֶיךָ יִרְאוּ זָרוֹת וְלִבְּךָ יְדַבֵּר תַּהְפֻּכוֹת. וְהָיִיתָ כְּשֹׁכֵב בְּלֶב־יָם וּכְשֹׁכֵב בְּרֹאשׁ חִבֵּל:
“Who cries, ‘Woe!’ Who, ‘Alas!’…Who has bloodshot eyes?” “Those who sit late over wine, those who come to search for mixed wine.” “Ultimately, it bites like a snake and stings like a viper.” “Your eyes will gaze at unsuitable women and your heart will speak in confusion.” “You will be like a person lying in the heart of the sea and like a person lying at the top of the mast.”
מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ כַּמָּה נְפָשׁוֹת נִשְׁקְעוּ בִּיוֵן מְצוּלָה עַל־יְדֵי הַשִׁכְרוּת רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן, וְנִטְרְדוּ מִשְּׁנֵי עוֹלָמוֹת עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה.
You Who are filled with compassion, You know how many souls have sunken into the thick mire as a result of drunkenness, may the Compassionate One protect us, losing both worlds as a result.
הַצִּילֵנִי מָלֵא רַחֲמִים, שָׁמְרֵנִי בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁלֹּא אָבוֹא לְעוֹלָם לִידֵי שִׁכְרוּת כְּלָל,
You Who are filled with compassion, rescue me. In Your vast compassion, guard me so that I will never become the least bit drunk.
וַאֲפִלּוּ בְּשַׁבָּתוֹת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים וּבִשְׁאָר זְמַנִּים קְדוֹשִׁים, אֲשֶׁר רְצוֹנְךָ שֶׁנְּשַׂמַּח אֶת נַפְשֵׁנוּ עַל־יְדֵי שְׁתִיַּת יַיִן מְעַט.
This applies even on the Shabbat, festivals and other holy times, when it is Your will that we gladden our souls by drinking some wine.
זַכֵּנוּ בְּרַחֲמֶיךָ הָרַבִּים, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְכַוֵּן אֶת הַמִּדָּה שֶׁלֹּא נִשְׁתֶּה כִּי אִם מְעַט הַמֻּכְרָח כְּפִי רְצוֹנְךָ, כְּדֵי לְרוֹמֵם דַּעְתֵּנוּ וּלְהַרְחִיב שִׂכְלֵנוּ וְלִבֵּנוּ, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְיַיִן יְשַׂמַּח לְבַב אֱנוֹשׁ.
In Your vast compassion, help us appraise the proper measure so that we will drink only the small amount necessary, in accordance with Your will, to elevate our mind and broaden our intellect and heart, since “wine cheers the heart of man.”
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי מְעַט הַשְּׁתִיָּה לְהַרְחִיב וּלְהַגְדִּיל הַחֲסָדִים שֶׁדַּעְתֵּנוּ מְלֻבָּשׁ בָּהֶם, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי מְעַט הַשְּׁתִיָּה לִהְיוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְטוּב לֵבָב בֶּאֱמֶת, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִתְדַּבֵּק בְּךָ בֶּאֱמֶת עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה,
In that way, as a result of drinking a little, may we broaden and enhance the lovingkindness in which our mind is contained, so that as a result of a small amount of drinking, we will truly attain joy and a good heart, and truly cling to You.
וְלִזְכֹּר עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר אֶת כָּל הָאַזְהָרוֹת בְּכָל אֵבֶר וָאֵבֶר שֶׁמַּזְהִיר אוֹתָנוּ מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, וְנִתְעוֹרֵר בְּיוֹתֵר לְקַיֵּם אֶת כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת הַשַּׁיָּכִים לְכָל אֵבֶר וָאֵבֶר.
As a result, may we recall ever more clearly all of the admonitions in every limb with which Moses admonishes us, so that we will be more inspired to uphold all of the mitzvot that are related to each limb.
וְתִפְתַּח לִבִּי בְּתוֹרָתֶךָ וְאַחֲרֵי מִצְוֹתֶיךָ תִּרְדֹּף נַפְשִׁי. וְאֶזְכֶּה לְהִתְקָרֵב אֵלֶיךָ יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר עַל־יְדֵי הַשְּׁתִיָּה בִּדְבֵקוּת נִפְלָא וַאֲמִתִּי כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב,
Open my heart to Your Torah. May my spirit pursue Your mitzvot. May I come ever closer to You as a result of drinking as I truly cling to You, in accordance with Your good will.
וְאֶהְיֶה מִתְפַּתֶּה בְּיֵינִי בִּקְדֻשָּׁה גְּדוֹלָה לִהְיוֹת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת, וְיִהְיֶה נִמְשַׁךְ עָלַי הַרְחָבַת הַדַּעַת וְהַחֲסָדִים מִדַּעַת קוֹנִי, וְאֶזְכֶּה לְכַבֵּד אֶת יְהֹוָה בֶּאֱמֶת מֵהוֹנִי וּמִגְּרוֹנִי:
When I drink wine in great holiness, may I truly be in accordance with Your good will. May breadth of consciousness and lovingkindness related to Your awareness, my Creator, be drawn onto me. May I truly honor You, HaShem, with my money and with my praise of You.
רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם, אַתָּה יָדַעְתָּ, כִּי אַף לְפִי גֹדֶל הַגְּנוּת שֶׁל הַשִּׁכְרוּת בְּלִי שִׁעוּר, אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן הַהֶכְרֵחַ לִפְעָמִים לִשְׁתּוֹת מְעַט בִּשְׁבִיל הַרְחָבַת הַדַּעַת,
Drinking the Right Amount
Master of the world, You know that although drunkenness is immeasurably reprehensible, nevertheless, at times a person must drink a little in order to broaden his mind.
כַּאֲשֶׁר הוֹדִיעוּנוּ חֲכָמֶיךָ הָאֲמִתִּיִּים גֹּדֶל גְּנוּת הַשִּׁכְרוּת דְּסִטְרָא אַחֲרָא, וְגֹדֶל מַעֲלַת הַשְּׁתִיָּה בִּקְדֻשָּׁה לִשְׁמֶךָ,
The true sages informed us that drunkenness, which is associated with the Side of Evil, is disgraceful, whereas drinking in a holy way for the sake of Your Name is exalted.
כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמְרוּ רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה, זָכָה מְשַׂמְּחוֹ, לֹא זָכָה מְשַׁמְּמוֹ, זָכָה נַעֲשָׂה רֹאשׁ, לֹא זָכָה נַעֲשָׂה רָשׁ.
Our sages said, “If a person is meritorious, [drinking wine] makes him joyful. But if he is not meritorious, it destroys him…If he is meritorious, he becomes a leader. But if he is not meritorious, he becomes impoverished.”
וְגַם אָנוּ מְחֻיָּבִים לְקַדֵּשׁ וּלְהַבְדִּיל עַל הַיַּיִן בְּשַׁבָּתוֹת וְיָמִים טוֹבִים וּלְבָרֵךְ בִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן עַל הַכּוֹס שֶׁל יַיִן, כִּי אֵין אוֹמְרִים שִׁיר אֶלָּא עַל הַיַּיִן, כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב, הַמְשַׂמֵּחַ אֱלֹהִים וַאֲנָשִׁים.
We are obligated to make Kiddush and Havdalah over wine on the Shabbat and festivals, and to recite the Grace after Meals over a cup of wine, because we recite song only over wine, which “gladdens God and men.”
עַל־כֵּן רַחֵם עָלֵינוּ לְמַעַן שְׁמֶךָ, וְזַכֵּנִי אוֹתִי וְאֶת כָּל חֶבְרָתֵינוּ וְאֶת כָּל עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה כָּל אֶחָד לְפִי בְּחִינָתוֹ לֵידַע בְּכָל עֵת לְכַוֵּן הַמִּדָּה, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּתְרַחֵק מֵהַשִּׁכְרוּת לְגַמְרֵי.
Therefore, have compassion on us for the sake of Your Name. May I, all of my friends, and Your entire nation, the Jewish people — each person on his level — always know the right amount of wine to drink, so that we will be completely removed from drunkenness.
וּבְעֵת שֶׁיִּהְיֶה רְצוֹנְךָ לְשַׂמְּחֵנוּ מִיֵּינְךָ הַטּוֹב, תְּזַכֵּנוּ וְתִשְׁמֹר אוֹתָנוּ שֶׁלֹּא נִשְׁתֶּה יוֹתֵר מִדַּאי רַק מְעַט הַמֻּכְרָח, בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְשַׂמֵּחַ נַפְשֵׁנוּ וּלְהַרְחִיב דַּעְתֵּנוּ וּלְהַגְדִּיל הַחֲסָדִים,
When it is Your will to gladden us with Your good wine, give us the strength and guard us so that we will not drink too much, but only the little amount necessary to gladden our soul, broaden our mind, and enhance the energies of lovingkindness.
וְלֹא נָבוֹא עַל־יְדֵי־זֶה לִידֵי רֹגֶז וְדִינִים וּגְבוּרוֹת חַס וְשָׁלוֹם כְּלָל. רַק אַדְרַבָּא נִזְכֶּה עַל־יְדֵי מְעַט הַשְּׁתִיָּה לְהִתְפַּתּוֹת בַּחֲסָדִים דִּקְדֻשָּׁה יוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר בְּשִׂמְחָה וּבְטוּב לֵבָב בֶּאֱמֶת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב,
May we never, as a result of drinking, experience any anger, judgment or harshness, Heaven forbid. To the contrary, as a result of our small amount of drinking, may we be increasingly drawn to holy lovingkindness, with true joy and a good heart, in accordance with Your good will.
בְּאֹפֶן שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה לְהִתְדַּבֵּק בְּךָ בֶּאֱמֶת, וְלָגִיל וְלָשִׁיר וְלִשְׂמֹחַ בְּשִׁמְךָ בְּגִילָה וְרַנֵּן, וּלְדַבֵּר דִּבְרֵי־תוֹרָה בְּהַרְחָבַת הַלֵּב וּבְשִׂמְחָה מַה שֶּׁצְרִיכִין לְדַבֵּר וּלְגַלּוֹת,
May we truly cling to You. May we rejoice, sing and be glad in Your Name with joy and song, and speak words of Torah, saying what needs to be said and disclosed, with an expansive heart and with joy.
וְתָשִׂים מַחְסוֹם לְפִינוּ לִבְלִי לִהְיוֹת 'הוֹלֵךְ רָכִיל מְגַלֶּה סוֹד', לִבְלִי לְגַלּוֹת אָז חַס וְשָׁלוֹם מַה שֶּׁאֵין צְרִיכִין לְגַלּוֹת.
Place a muzzle to our mouths so that we will not be like someone “who goes as a talebearer revealing a secret,” and not disclose what should not be disclosed, Heaven forbid.
וְתִפְתַּח אֶת פִּינוּ בְּשִׁירוֹת וְתִשְׁבָּחוֹת לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל וְהַקָּדוֹשׁ כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב, וִיקֻיַּם בָּנוּ מִקְרָא שֶׁכָּתוּב, וְחִכֵּךְ כְּיֵין הַטּוֹב הוֹלֵךְ לְדוֹדִי לְמֵישָׁרִים דּוֹבֵב שִׂפְתֵי יְשֵׁנִים.
Open our mouths with song and praises to Your great and holy Name, in accordance with Your good will. May the verse be realized in us, “Your palate is like the best wine, gliding down smoothly to my beloved, making the lips of the sleeping speak.”
עָזְרֵנִי לִהְיוֹת כִּרְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בְּכָל הַתְּנוּעוֹת, בַּאֲכִילָה וּשְׁתִיָּה וּשְׁאָר הֶכְרֵחִיּוּת, הַכֹּל אֶזְכֶּה לַעֲשׂוֹת עַל צַד הַיּוֹתֵר טוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת כְּפִי רְצוֹנְךָ הַטּוֹב בֶּאֱמֶת בְּאוֹתוֹ הָעֵת וְהַזְּמַן,
May our every action — eating, sleeping and other necessary activities — be in accordance with Your good will. May I do everything in truly the best way, truly in accordance with Your good will at that time.
וְלֹא אָסוּר מֵרְצוֹנְךָ יָמִין וּשְׂמֹאל מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם, אָמֵן סֶלָה:
May I never turn aside from Your will, right or left. Amen, selah.