Saying L'chaim: Difference between revisions
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== The Purpose of Saying L'chaim == | == The Purpose of Saying L'chaim == | ||
This section is incomplete. Please contribute to ChabadPedia and complete it. There may be more details on the discussion page. | <nowiki>{{This section is incomplete. Please contribute to ChabadPedia and complete it. There may be more details on the discussion page}}</nowiki>. | ||
When the Frierdiker Rebbe visited Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld during his journey in [[Eretz Yisroel]], Rabbi Sonnenfeld asked [[The Rebbe Rayatz|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." | When the Frierdiker Rebbe visited Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld during his journey in [[Eretz Yisroel]], Rabbi Sonnenfeld asked [[The Rebbe Rayatz|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." | ||
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== 'Substitutes' for 'Mashke' == | == '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..." | 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. | 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. | ||
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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 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 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. | 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. | ||
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== Further reading == | == Further reading == | ||
"L'chaim!", A Chassidisher Derher, Issue 84 (161), pages 48-59. | |||
== See Also == | |||
* [[Sar HaMashkim]] | |||
* [[Zeks un Neyntziker]] | |||
* [[Benedictine]] | |||
* [[Wine|Yayin (Wine)]] | |||
== External Links == | |||
* [https://anash.org/a-yid-doesnt-get-drunk/ A Yid Doesn’t Get Drunk] - [[Anash.org]] | |||
* | |||
[[he:אמירת לחיים]] | [[he:אמירת לחיים]] | ||
[[Category:Food and drink]] | |||
[[Category:Chabad Takonos]] | |||