Wine is an essential part of major Jewish rituals — but the Torah is also wary of the dangers of over-consumption. Several interviewees spoke as though the two were “inseparable.” More importantly, alcohol accompanied food — not the other way around. While the consensus does in fact indicate that Jews have lower rates of alcohol dependency, that doesn’t free Jews from addiction problems. As a culture that values sobriety, individual responsibility, and health, Judaism is wary of substances that may cause more damage than the enjoyment they may bring their users. Any brāhmaṇa or brāhmaṇa’s wife who drinks liquor is taken by the agents of Yamarāja to the hell known as Ayaḥpāna. This hell also awaits any kṣatriya, vaiśya, or person under a vow who in illusion drinks soma-rasa.
- Wine is an essential part of major Jewish rituals — but the Torah is also wary of the dangers of over-consumption.
- Glass [6] discusses the myth existent across Jewish communities that Jews cannot have addictions.
- Generally, they will attend the winery to physically tip the fruit into the crush, and operate the pasteurization equipment.
- The distillation and sale of alcohol became one of the biggest money-makers for the Polish nobility who earned the lion’s share of the profit from its sale to the peasantry.
As all fruits are kosher for Passover, so is hard cider, however in practice it’s difficult to find varieties that are certified as such. Rum is produced from fermented sugarcane and a trip on bath salts is cheaper than meth as such is kosher for Passover. Become a Superfan by following us on your favorite social channels and like, comment, share our content to help Jew in the City reach more people.
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A later responsum on this subject was written by Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff and also accepted by the CJLS.[10] Dorff noted that not all wines are made by automated processes, and thus the reasoning behind Silverman’s responsum was not conclusively reliable in all cases. Therefore, he explored the possibility to change the halacha, arguing that the prohibition no longer applies. He cites rabbinic thought on Jewish views of Christians, also finding that most poskim refused to consign Christians to the status of idolater. Dorff then critiqued the traditional halakhic argument that avoiding such wine would prevent intermarriage. Dorff asserted, however, that those who were strict about the laws of kashrut were not likely to intermarry, and those that did not follow the laws would not care if a wine has a heksher or not.
Are Orthodox Jews Allowed To Consume Alcohol?
This is reinforced in modern days with our deep understanding of the detrimental effects of alcohol, such as the potential for addiction and other destructive behaviors, which Jews of the olden era were hardly aware of. A drunkard is commonly called a shikur and is usually kept away from the community and prohibited from religious functions. Wine is the primary choice of alcohol for many of these events, but under some circumstances, Jews may also consume other alcoholic beverages at different events. Wine has been an essential part of Jewish culture and tradition, and special blessings are delivered before and after its consumption. Alcohol is considered taboo in many religions because of its intoxicating effects on the body and mind. Participants consisted of adult men and women receiving services from Jewish Child and Family Service (JCFS).
And as members of a minority group, they tend to guard against behavior, like excessive drinking, that would act to their discredit, he stated. At one time, smoking was generally considered a harmless, even worthwhile pleasure. Many thought that tobacco was a healthful substance, an aid to blood circulation, to digestion, and the like. A number of rabbis shared this opinion, writing in praise of tobacco’s benefits to human health.
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As with all processed foods, those who eat only kosher certified products will want to look for a Passover certification symbol, even if none of their ingredients are hametz. Dorff concluded a number of points including that there is no reason to believe that the production of such wines is conducted as part of pagan (or indeed, any) religious practice. Some wines use a non-kosher ingredient as part of a fining process, but not as an ingredient in the wine as such.
The majority of respondents were female (84.4%) and nearly half (41.2%) were over 61 years old. The majority of respondents’ education ranged from some university education to graduate degrees. 82.4% of respondents identified their religious affiliation as Jewish, 8.8% Catholic, 2.9% Protestant, and 2.9% Atheist. An analysis of participants by service area is provided in Table 2. A survey was administered to adults receiving services through Jewish Child and Family Service, Winnipeg location.
And, of course, any other ingredients used—and the distillery itself—also have to pass muster. Today, the guidelines for kosher food and drinks are an amalgam of both ancient and contemporary rulings. In general, per the Bible, basic factors that would render a food or drink item non-kosher include specific animal products (pork, rabbit, birds of prey, catfish, sturgeon, most insects and any shellfish or reptile). Animal products that do fall under the kosher umbrella, such as grass-eating mammals with cloven hooves and fish with scales and fins, must be prepared in accordance with dietary law outlined by the Bible. Jewish people begin drinking early in life in connection with their religious rituals. Thus, through their traditions, Jews are systematically socialized to moderate drinking and sobriety.
Inn Keeping and Drinking
The wretched Brahmana who from this day, unable to resist the temptation, will drink wine shall be regarded as having lost his virtue, shall be reckoned to have committed the sin of slaying a Brahmana, shall be hated both in this and the other worlds. I set this limit to the conduct and dignity of Brahmanas everywhere. Let the honest, let Brahmanas, let those with regard for their superiors, let the gods, let the three worlds, listen!.
Some even wondered whether a blessing ought to be recited upon smoking, since the pleasure derived from it resembled that of eating, drinking, or the smelling of fragrances. Anecdotal evidence supports that Jewish acetaminophen and alcohol communities, on the whole, view alcoholic consumption more negatively than Protestant Christian groups. The non-profit Jewish institutions are supplemented by for-profit rehab centers with a Jewish focus.
Jews value the importance of behaving correctly and responsibly, which is why drinking excessively is seen as going against the status quo. While wine is undoubtedly used on many occasions and during several rituals, it is not necessary; those who cannot consume it due to medical reasons should opt for non-intoxicating alternatives for rituals like the Passover Seder. Judaism permits the use of alcohol in the Scriptures but stresses the importance of moderation, which is essential not to fall off the wagon when consuming addictive drugs like alcohol.
One possible conclusion is that Jewish people believe that members of the Jewish community simply do not become alcoholics, so they are convinced that they are not exposed to people with addictions [5]. Therefore, they lack the ambition to seek education on the topic and become naive to the reality of the prevalence of addictions in the Jewish community [5]. Glass [6] discusses the myth existent across Jewish communities that Jews cannot have addictions.
