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Friday, March 25, 2011

Insight 5771-25: The Kohain and the Rav

For Parshat Shemini

Not yet available on the Nishma website.

2 comments:

  1. I find it interesting that wine is thought to bring simcha when it is classified as a depressant. I think Hashem wants us to experience life to its fullest without numbing ourselves out with wine, liquor, drugs, food or other addictive substances/behaviours. With a few exceptions like Purim, we need all our faculties to serve him and do mitzvahs.

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  2. Your words are most appreciated. The irony you express regarding the perception found within Torah works about wine, i.e. that it is connected with simcha, yet it is really a depressant is actually found also in the real world. How many associate alcohol with "partying" while its true nature is, as you state, otherwise? The truth is, though, that a perusal of corpus of Torah literature would indicate that this dual, conflicting nature of wine and alcohol was actually recognized by our Sages. As with all of God's creations, it is in how you use an object that defines its ultimate value. Wine has a place but not always and, as you state, that place may be more infrequent than frequent. Even when it is to be used, consideration of all effects are still to be considered and its ironic nature as both a stimulant of joy and a depressant is to be recognized.

    RBH

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