Saying L'chaim

Mashke (pronounced with the stress on the first syllable) is a common term for alcoholic spirits among Chabad Chassidim, over which Chassidim say "l'chaim" at farbrengens. The mashke is drunk in order to facilitate the internalization of the concepts discussed at the farbrengen and the making of good resolutions. However, many times the Rebbe emphasized the rejection of excessive drinking and even commanded the "Mashke Ordinance" which limits the amount of drinking and the ages at which mashke is consumed.

In the early years, the Rebbe used a liquor called Benedictine at farbrengens, and following a certain incident, the Rebbe began to publicly use Smirnoff (although in his home the Rebbe continued to use Benedictine afterward as well). To this day, this liquor is the main mashke used at Chassidic farbrengens in 770 and among Chassidim in general.

The Purpose of Saying L'chaim

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When the Frierdiker Rebbe visited Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld during his journey in Eretz Yisroel, Rabbi Sonnenfeld asked the Frierdiker Rebbe why Chassidim have the custom to say l'chaim at a farbrengen. The Frierdiker Rebbe answered with a parable about an only son of a king who was sent to a distant village to mingle with the residents and bring them closer to the king, but in practice, the prince forgot the purpose of his mission to that place. One day, a messenger from the royal city arrived in the village and delivered a letter to the prince in which his father wrote that he would soon bring him back to the palace. The prince was filled with joy that he would soon return to the palace and wanted to burst into dance, but feared that people would think he had gone mad, so he invited all the villagers to drink at his expense, until they all broke into dance together. This parable describes the descent of the soul into the body, and that the mashke is intended to put the animal soul to sleep and bring the G-dly soul to revelation. The Rebbe also expressed: "Among Chassidim, the order is to say 'l'chaim' in order to put the body and animal soul to sleep, and to awaken and reveal the G-dly soul."

The Format of Saying 'L'chaim'

The common Chassidic expression among Chabad Chassidim is 'l'chaim v'livracha' (to life and to blessing), as was the custom of the Maggid of Mezritch, the Alter Rebbe, and all the Chassidim after him, who explained the intention of this format: since when wine enters, secrets come out, which is the revelation of emotions, therefore a blessing is needed, and the format is "l'chaim v'livracha" which contains the letters of lev-racha (heart-softness).

However, in other Chassidic communities, the custom when saying 'l'chaim' is to wish 'l'chaim tovim u'l'shalom' (to good life and to peace), and this format is also mentioned by our Rebbeim with its explanation, that the reason why specifically when saying l'chaim one needs to wish 'l'chaim tovim' is because the first time intoxicating drink is mentioned in the Torah, when Noach left the ark and drank wine, the Torah relates that there were negative consequences from this.

And in fact, even much earlier, the first sin in the world which is the source of all sins – according to one opinion – was the vine tree, and since there were negative consequences, one needs to bless that the 'l'chaim' being said should have good consequences: l'chaim tovim u'l'shalom.

The Tzemach Tzedek explained that in practice, the wish 'l'chaim tovim u'l'shalom' includes three parts:

• L'chaim – physical health, that there should be no illness, G-d forbid.
• Tovim – livelihood.
• U'l'shalom – peace in the home.

In practice, among Chabad Chassidim, saying the version of the Maggid of Mezritch and the Alter Rebbe became established, but several times the Rebbe himself also used this format.

The Rebbe Rashab expressed that there is no need to multiply blessings when saying 'l'chaim', and saying l'chaim alone is sufficient and includes all blessings.

Takanat HaMashke

Takanat HaMashke is a decree established by the Rebbe to limit the amount of alcohol consumption among Chabad chassidim. On Shabbat Parshat Shemini, Shabbat Mevarchim Chodesh Iyar 5723 (תשכ"ג / 1963), the Rebbe issued a decree for all Anash (members of the Chabad community), particularly those under forty years of age and especially yeshiva students, to reduce their consumption of mashke (alcoholic beverages). Some attribute this to an undesirable incident that occurred as a result of excessive drinking during that period, while others claim the decree came from Above (isarusa d'leila) without any connection to any specific chassid.

Over the years, the Rebbe repeatedly mentioned the "limitation of mashke," and at times spoke sharply about the caution required regarding excessive drinking.

Distribution of Mashke

During the Rebbe's farbrengens (chassidic gatherings), he would distribute mashke for upcoming events. On several occasions during Kos Shel Bracha (cup of blessing), the Rebbe would also distribute mashke to specific individuals.

'Substitutes' for 'Mashke'

The Rebbe explains that the "wine of Torah" - the teachings of Chassidus - is a substitute for drinking 'mashke'. Regarding drinking the four cups on Acharon Shel Pesach (the last day of Passover), the Rebbe instructed not to drink full cups (as on the Seder night), and if necessary, one could do this spiritually: by reciting four chassidic discourses by heart, and "since through this one will certainly be healthy spiritually, one will also be healthy physically..."

Even for Anash over forty years of age, for whom the 'decree' is less stringent, the Rebbe points to the 'wine of Torah' as the proper drink, and of this 'mashke' one should certainly drink abundantly.

When Rabbi Yitzchak Holtzman had a private audience with the Rebbe in Adar 5736 (1976) and asked in writing about farbrengens with 'mashke' in high school yeshivas, the Rebbe raised both hands on the table, lifted his eyes, banged strongly on his table and said there is no need for 'mashke', not even wine, and one can simply farbreng with soda.

When Rabbi Shaul guvani entered for yechidus (private audience) at the beginning of his Kvutza year - 5737 (1977), he told the Rebbe that his friends were pressuring him to drink mashke despite his dislike for its taste. The Rebbe asked him what drink he did like, and when he replied "cola," the Rebbe told him to say l'chaim on cola and to tell others that this is what the Rebbe instructed him to do, and even offered to give him money so he could buy cola for himself.

When Rabbi Shneur Zalman Gurary was forbidden to drink mashke due to his health condition, the Rebbe instructed him to sip tea instead of mashke when he spoke at farbrengens. Rabbi Gourary related that indeed the tea helped and made it easier for him to speak at farbrengens.

In 5741 (1981), Erev Pesach fell on Shabbat. During the Rebbe's farbrengen held at 1:30, it was already forbidden to drink mashke and wine. The Rebbe said l'chaim over a cup of water and even instructed Rabbi Zalman Shimon Dvorkin to assist all those present in saying l'chaim over water.

Further reading

"L'chaim!", A Chassidisher Derher, Issue 84 (161), pages 48-59.

See Also

• Sar HaMashkim
• Zeks un Neyntziker
• Benedictine
• Yayin (Wine)

External Links

• A Yid Doesn’t Get Drunk - Anash.org