For those who follow Daas Torah, here is their message
An Appeal to B’nei Yeshiva & Ba’alei Batim
TO ELIMINATE DANGEROUS DRINKING ON PURIM
“One is obligated on this day [of Purim] to have an abundance of simcha, and to eat and drink To contentment. However, we are not commanded to become drunk to the point of diminishing ourselves through the simcha, for the simcha that we were commanded to have is not one of frivolity or foolishness but one of spiritual pleasure that brings us to the love of Hashem and praise for the miracles He performed for us.” (Meiri, as quoted in the Bi’ur Halacha, Orach Chaim 695.)
In recent years, the problem of dangerous drunkenness on Purim, especially among b’nei yeshiva, has reached alarming proportions, and has led to sakonas nefoshos and chilul Hashem.
Medical doctors as well as representatives of Hatzolah have reported numerous instances of bochurim having to be rushed to hospital emergency rooms, some of them even placed on life-support systems, because of over-drinking on Purim.
To address this intolerable situation, we call upon the entire community that seeks to fulfill the mitzva of Simchas Purim properly, and especially our dear yeshiva bochurim, to take special care in drinking practices, and to adhere to the following suggested guidelines.
1. The mitzvah of “Chayav adam l’v’sumei b’Puria…” is preferably fulfilled with wine, as is stated In Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (142:6). Unrestrained use of whiskey and other alcoholic beverages is entirely inappropriate and absolutely contrary to da’as Chachomim.
2. Ba’alei Batim should not serve any alcoholic beverages, including wine, to groups of bochurim visiting their homes.
3. Those who drive under the influence of alcohol endanger not only themselves but also their passengers and other members of the public. Drivers must therefore not consume any alcoholic beverages, including wine, and must take extra care to drive safely, observing all applicable Laws and safety procedures.
4. Nobody should enter a car if there is reason to believe that the driver is under the influence of alcohol, and all appropriate steps should be taken to prevent such an individual from driving.
In the merit of fulfilling the mitzva of Simchas Purim properly, may we be privileged to see haromas keren Yisroel.
Rabbi Shmuel Berenbaum
Yeshivas Mir
Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Lieff
Yeshiva Gedolah of South Monsey
Rabbi Yehoshua Schiff
Mesivta Bais Shraga
Rabbi Chaim Boruch Wolpin
Yeshiva Karlin Stolin
Rabbi Mastisyahu Salomon
Beth Medrash Govoah, Lakewood
Rabbi Yisroel Plutchok
Yeshiva Derech Chaim
Rabbi Shmuel Mendlowitz
Mesivta Bais Shraga
Rabbi Asher Kalmanowitz
Yeshivas Mir
Rabbi Akiva Grunblatt
Yeshiva Rabbi Yisroel Meir Hakohen
Rabbi Yisroel M. Kagan
Yeshiva Toras Chaim, Denver
Rabbi Yaakov Abramowitz
Yeshiva Gevoha D’Chassidei Gur
Rabbi Chaim Leib Epstein
Yeshiva Zichron Melech
Rabbi Simcha B. Ehrenfeld
Mattesdorfer Rav
Rabbi Dovid Kviat
Yeshivas Mir
Rabbi Shloime Mandel
Yeshiva of Brooklyn
Rabbi Mordechai Rennert
Yeshiva Derech Chaim
Rabbi Yaakov Schnaidman
Yeshiva Bais Moshe, Scranton
Rabbi Yoseph Rosenblum
Yeshiva Shaarei Yosher
Rabbi Moshe Wolfson
Yeshiva Torah Vodath
Rabbi Dovid Schustal
Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood
Rabbi Yeruchim Olshin
Beth Medrash Govoha, Lakewood
Rabbi Moshe Green
Yeshiva D’Monsey
Rabbi Yitzchok Paler
Yeshiva M’kor Chaim
Rabbi Yosef Frankel
V’yelepoler Rebbe
Rabbi Yehuda Svei
Yeshiva Gedolah of Philadelphia
Rabbi Zecharya Gelley
Khal Adas Yeshurun
Rabbi Chaim Stein
Yeshivas Telshe, Clevaland
Rabbi Moshe Glustein
Yeshvia Mercaz Hatorah, Montreal
Rabbi Yekusiel Bittersfeld
Yeshiva Harbotzas Torah
Rabbi Yitzchok Feigelstock
Mesivta of Long Beach
Rabbi Aharon M. Schechter
Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin
Rabbi Eliezer Gross
Yeshiva Gedolah of Los Angeles
Rabbi Aharon Feldman
Yeshivas Ner Yisroel, Baltimore
Rabbi Yitzchok Sorotzkin
Rosh Yeshiva, Telz Yeshiva, Lakewood
Rabbi Chaim Steinwurzel
Yeshiva Shaarei Yosher
Rabbi Avraham Chaim Levin
Yeshivas Telshe-Chicago
Rabbi Eliezer Eichler
Tiferes Mordechai Shlomo, Boyan
Rabbi Elya Ber Wachtfogel
Yeshiva Gedola Zichron Moshe
Rabbi Eliyahu Kanarek
Yeshiva Ohr Hameir, Peekskill
Rabbi Henoch Leibowitz
Yeshiva Rabbi Yisroel Meir Hakohen
Rabbi Shmuel Miller
Yeshiva Gedolah Bais Yisroel
Rabbi Aryeh Malkiel Kotler
Beth Medrash Govaoha, Lakewood
Rabbi Naftali Jaeger
Yeshiva Shor Yoshuv
Rabbi Yisroel Perkowski
Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud
Rabbi Yechiel Perr
Yeshiva Derech Ayson
Rabbi Chaim Dov Keller
Yeshivas Telshe, Chicago
Rabbi Shimon Alster
Yeshiva Gedola of Cliffwood
Rabbi Binynomin Zeilberger
Yeshiva Bais Hatalmud
Rabbi Tzvi Spira
Bluzhover Rebbe
Rabbi Lipa Margolis
Yeshiva Torah Temimah
Rabbi Yaakov Busel
Mesivta Rabbeinu Yaakov Rabbi Yosef Eichenstein
Yeshivas Rabbeinu Yaakov Yosef
Rabbi Shmuel Kamenetsky
Yeshiva Gedolah of Philadelphia
Rabbi Dovid Harris
Yeshiva Rabbi Yisroel Meir Hakohen
Rabbi Reuven Feinstein
Yeshiva of Staten Island
Rabbi Levi Dicker
Yeshiva Mercas HaTorah, Belle Harbor
Rabbi Yaakov Bender
Yeshiva Darchei Torah
Rabbi Yochanan Zweig
Yeshiva of Miami Beach
Rabbi Shmuel Shmelka Leifer
Yeshiva Toras Chesed
Rabbi Dovid Feinstein
Yeshiva Tiferes Yerushalayim
Rabbi Refael Gettinger
Yeshiva Toras Chesed
Rabbi Meir Stern
Yeshiva Gedolah of Passaic
Rabbi Yaakov Perlow
Novominsker Rebbe
Rabbi Yosef Harari-Raful
Yeshiva Ateret Torah
This message is published as a public Service by Agudath Israel of America,and has been publicized regularly for close to twenty years.