PDA

View Full Version : something a little scary

Tigger5741
10-21-2003, 01:05 PM
as we all know this past weekend was Simchat Torah, and unfortunately, among teens (and young adults) it is becoming the trend to get drunk/high/stoned on this holiday. as I am a college student I spent the Yom Tov on my repsctive campus, and i witnessed the general revelry and "simcha" and was disgusted, but then i heard something a little scary. one girl (religious, but not from yeshiva) says to me that she "want to get drunk because it is a mitzva". now last i checked the only holiday that there was any Mitzva that has to do with alcohol was Purim. if this were an isolated case i would not be so worried, but this is not the first time i heard such statements. does anyone have any comments on this? where do people get these ideas? are there others who think that drinking is in fact a mitzva on Simchat Torah?
Bongo_Dude
10-26-2003, 11:15 PM
just a correction - there is never a mitzva of drinking, even on purim. It is a shame, but the problem is so many people associate happiness with drinking, maybe because it is an escape from this dreary world. I dont know where it comes from, but it worries me as much as it worries you. And the misconception that drinking is a mitzva is very widespread, and has the potential to taint halacha forever.

- B.D.
Tigger5741
10-27-2003, 05:40 PM
Hey BD,
I know that there is no actual mitzva to get drunk, I was just saying that the only time a mitzva has anything to do with drinkingalcohol was on Purim, but thanks :)
Bongo_Dude
10-28-2003, 06:13 PM
ok got it - u should read my postings at the coldtruth forum because i have a lot to say about substances there.

- B.D.
Hebraish
01-15-2004, 09:16 PM
It's a mitzvah to be happy on all the holidays. I am not sure if this is extra special for Simchas Torah or not, but the happiness is mostly shown by singing and dancing like we do. In the girls case, it could be that she used getting drunk as a way to cope with stress and pressures.
c00kiem0nster111
01-18-2004, 07:40 AM
i dont think people are getting drunk because its a mitzvah. its because simchat torah is a time where there are a lot of get togethers and reunions and kids when theyre together just do stupid things like drugs and alcohol