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‘Zeks un Ninetziker’ now Legal in NY

Eli Eber, owner of Ebers Wine and Liquors, showing off a bottle of 96% for sale.

A prohibition era law banning the sale of alcohol stronger then 160 proof in New York has been lifted on the 1st of this month. Zeks un Ninetziker, also known as Raineh Mashke, Tzav or rubbing alcohol, is 192 proof/96 percent strength alcohol that is one of the staples at just a handful of Shabbos Kiddushim and Farbrenges in 770 and around Crown Heights.

This past Shabbos Pinchus ‘Pinto’ Greenberg walked into the Farbrengen which takes place in the small Zal of upstairs 770 and announced that “Nisbatla Hagzairah!” [the decree has been lifted], and they no longer have to travel to New Jersey to purchase their coveted Rineh Mashke!

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35 Comments

  • Chava Docks

    My brother-in-law is so happy, now! He posted this on Facebook!

    Chava Docks
    Oak Park, MI

  • moderation

    Great…now it will take only half the amount of time to get completely shikkur~

  • Boussard

    This is a dangerous behavior that should not be celebrated as “chassidish”, or condoned.

  • enough drunkenness

    Perfect! Just what this drunken bunch of lunatics need…more poison so they can throw up in Shul, on the street, & on their wives & kids.

    I fail to see why this is a cause for celebration. I’d like to know what Hatzalah thinks. Can’t wait for Simchas Torah now.

  • A shanda

    Given what we know today about the physical and psychological destruction of alcohol B’chlall, and 96% b’frat, this should be no cause for celebration. This mashke has no place at a Chassidishe fargbrengen, and I really don’t care that it is/was a staple at kidushim today or in pre-war Europe.

  • Yosef

    I don’t think this is anything to celebrate. I am afraid this will exacerbate the drinking problem in Lubavitch. have yet to be at a farbregen where people don;t drink more than 4 lechaims.

  • BeGilufin

    Not “rubbing alcohol”, Grain Alcohol. Rubbing alcohol is poison.

  • #2

    You don’t have to publicize your name. I feel bad for you and your brother-in-law for thinking it’s kind of cool. Detroiters have serious issues!!!

  • t s

    mach kiddush “vi a yid” and eventually roll in the gutter like a goy.

    bottom line is some of us escape via alchohol. others with perhaps less destructive vices. but an escape it is. and many times an addiction.

    but no one can judge another.

  • Realistic

    Let’s have a celebratory recruitment event for Hatzalah! We’ll need to quickly recruit & train more volunteers to save people as they get alcohol poisoned chas ve’sholom twice as fast…

  • Lazer Cohen

    The only thing this junk is good for is to line it up on a stand and use phosphoros bullets when you use the raineh mashke for target practice–watch the fun when the phosphoros hits the booze!

  • Leilui nishmas Reb Meir Itkin AH

    When consumed by the right people (experienced, responsible with high tolerance) properly (drink water and eat afterward, breakfast before kiddush), 96 is actually less intoxicating than a lot of other stuff out there because it contains fewer impurities and no flavoring agents, added sugar etc.

    So, if you can handle it, mach a brocho, breathe in, drink it down (remember a reviis is 86 mls), breathe out, have some kugel and a few cups of water, and enjoy your Shabbos. That Polish stuff Mr Eber is posing with is zeyr a gutte schoire!

    If you can’t handle it, stay far away. And bochurim who go to help shluchim on college campuses for events should not even THINK of bringing any with them.

  • Straight Shooter

    This is exactly what is wrong with Chabad these days. We glorify drinking. This is newsworthy? That we now can get drunker faster? Think of the message you are sending to all the younger children who read this website. Unfortunately it is the rampant promotion of alchohol as chassidish and the unmentioned alcoholism which is destroying lives in our community which is why we are doomed.

  • No Meorei haEsh

    Borei Meorei HaEsh is only if you “extinguish” your havdolo candle with it which is not very smart unless you’ve doing it in some nonperforming rental property with a nice insurance policy, can run fast, and have a very good lawyer.

  • esther in LA

    more clients for the chabad residential treatment center of los angelas!

  • no more drinks

    Thank you #25. Most people probably say that you are just negative and a buzzkill. But most people are morons.

  • ?????

    There is already on the market an american 96% called graves.
    It is for sale in most if not all liquor stores in NYS.
    What is the chidush?