5861 —קריאה תקיפה לריסון בשתיה

B"H, 20th of Marcheshvan, 5718

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

A report has reached me that has pained me: that at times you are not careful regarding drinking mashkeh (strong drink), to the point that you exceed the measure so that it is noticeable to all that you are drunk, and that at times this happens even publicly, at a farbrengen and the like.

Now, the words of our Rebbeim, our holy leaders, may the memory of the righteous and holy be for a blessing for the life of the World to Come, whose souls are in the treasuries on high, may their merit protect us, are already well known against such things; that is to say, against drinking mashkeh in general except at a time of joy, and even then in a limited measure, and for each and every one in the manner appropriate to him. That is to say: if there is a concern and a fear that he will become drunk even from a small measure of mashkeh, then even that measure of drinking is forbidden. And if they demanded this even in a matter that is not in public, how much more so at a farbrengen in the presence of many... Our Rebbeim have demanded this for tens of years now, and over several generations, and in these days of ours the demand is firmer and more severe still. For on the one hand, each and every one bears the duty להפיץ המעינות חוצה "to spread the wellsprings outward" (cf. יפוצו מעינתיך חוצה "Let your wellsprings be dispersed outward," Mishlei 5:16; and the Baal Shem Tov's letter, printed at the beginning of Kesser Shem Tov), and he must therefore be exceedingly careful about anything that can spoil this... And on the other hand, precisely בעקבתא דמשיחא "in the footsteps of Mashiach" (cf. בעקבות משיחא חוצפא יסגא "In the footsteps of Mashiach, insolence will increase," Sotah 49b), the darkness of the exile grows stronger, and with it the coarseness of the body; and therefore the matter in question (not only drinking to the point of drunkenness, but drinking in general) is liable to strengthen the coarse matter and through this to lead to a number of negative and forbidden results.

My strong hope is that immediately upon receiving this letter of mine, you will set limits for yourself in this matter as needed. And where there is doubt, then ספיקא לחומרא "a doubt is ruled stringently" (cf. וכל ספיקא דאורייתא לחומרא "and every doubt in a Torah law is ruled stringently," Beitzah 3b). I will await good news from you in all of the above, and soon.

With blessing,

M. Schneersohn

Summary

This letter warns the recipient against drinking to excess, especially at farbrengens. The Rebbeim permitted mashkeh only at times of joy and in a limited measure, and forbade even a little to one who fears becoming drunk; in the footsteps of Mashiach, when the duty to spread the wellsprings outward rests on everyone and the coarseness of the body grows stronger, this demand is stricter than ever.