The Sobering Truth: Finding Authentic Joy Beyond the Haze of Intoxication

Why does Judaism eschew the euphoria of alcohol for a deeper, more intrinsic joy? Explore this quandary with us as we unravel the surprising weekly kiddish ritual and Reb Bunim Pshischa's profound teachings on the role of authentic happiness in spiritual practice. Our latest episode ventures into the heart of Jewish tradition, examining the effects of alcohol as a ceremonial substance versus the fulfillment derived from mitzvot and the sacred duties of the Beis HaMikdash. Discover the staggering global expenditure on alcohol and why, despite its widespread acceptance, Judaism advocates for a joy that emanates from within.

We're peeling back the layers of cultural norms to question the reliance on external stimuli like alcohol for happiness. With insights on the halachic rulings prohibiting intoxication during sacred services, we're looking at how these practices reinforce the pursuit of genuine Simcha—a joy deeply rooted in understanding and performing mitzvos. This episode isn't just about questioning the role of substances; it's an invitation to reflect on the sources of our joy and how our faith and actions intertwine to foster a more profound sense of contentment. Join us for an enlightening conversation that promises to shift your perspective on the intersection of religion, tradition, and the quest for true happiness.

Transcript

Speaker 1: 0:01

Recreational drugs are used by more than 33% of the entire world's population. It's even more staggering, more shocking. Did you know that Jewish people will engage in the occasional recreational drug use nearly every single week? And what I'm referring to is that unique drug called alcohol. Jewish people will make kiddish on wine, an alcoholic beverage. It's a drug it is. When you will put a form of ethanol through the fermentation process, mix in some sugar, create an adult drink.

Speaker 1: 0:44

Alcohol gives a euphoric feeling to the person that drinks it. It's said to have a depressant on one's mind and it will reduce anxiety, make a person happy. But it's a drug. It's widely popular, widely consumed and just last year more than $1.5 trillion yes, trillion, with a T was spent on alcohol in the world. So if this mutter, this permitted substance called alcohol, will bring someone to a happy state, why is it asking in all honesty, with an open mind, mind that God would say when you do the Avodah and the Besam Migdash and when you will judge a Halachic ruling, a Jewish court case, you're not allowed to be intoxicated. No intoxicants are to be in your blood, stream blood flow. Why Let him do? Let the Kohen or judge who was mentally there, stream blood flow. Why Let him do ivduet Hashem b'simcha, let the Kohen or judge who is mentally there his anxiety levels are lower let him have some yayim v'shechar. An innocent question, if it can be regulated to the right amount 0.8% below the legal limit why A fundamental Yisrael?

Speaker 1: 2:05

From the great Rabboni Pshischa, he tells us. You know why? Because Judaism encourages and necessitates that you do the Avodah and the Beis HaMikdash and you Pasch in Hashayla, but you do it with a Simcha that you get not from external stimuli but from the Mitzvos and the Avodah in it of themselves. You do it with a simcha that you get not from external stimuli but from the mitzvos and the avodah in it of themselves.

Speaker 1: 2:36

Any Kohen who would come in with simcha from an external stimuli called alcohol, it shows that there's a glaring deficiency in the person's knowledge and connection to the mitzvos and the avodah that he had to look elsewhere to find his simcha. It's incumbent upon us to serve Hashem with simcha and a real, authentic simcha, a simcha that we derive from fulfilling Hashem's will. When we study about the mitzvah and understand how this is mitake and it fixes worlds, how it pays us very heavily in the next world, deep-rooted reasons that we're fulfilling the point of creation when we learn and when we do mitzvos and we perform the avodah and the beis ha-migdash. That's an authentic simcha and that isn't looking for external stimuli which is prohibited to ingest and then do the service inside the Bais HaMikdash. You.