Op-Ed: It’s Not Chasidic to Drink, It’s Against Chasidus
by RabbI Chaim Dalfin
The drinking problem in Judaism including Chabad needs to stop. Too many people are hurt because of it. I don’t come as a Mussar Magid, rather, out of genuine concern.
I received a call from a seasoned Mashpia who spoke to me about the drinking in Yeshivas, including by some Mashpiim, that must stop. The new drinking before kabalas Shabbos known as “Bein” is part of the problem, and kiddushim, ufrufs and other simchos also aren’t a drinking party.
One way to stop this is by the leaders standing up and saying so. They need to do this because people are being hurt by this drinking.
It’s against the Rebbe, Chasidus and Torah to drink. Having one little L’Chaim in the right setting is fine. Any Mashpia under 40 according to the Rebbe isn’t allowed to drink. If the Mashpia tells you otherwise he is lying. The yeshiva Administration must tell such a Mashpia to stop or lose his position. Period. There’s no room for negotiation.
Too many students are hurt from drinking at Chasidic Farbrengens. It’s not Chasidic to drink. It’s against Chasidus.
Chasidim would have an empty bottle on the table while farbrenging for hours. In Russia, drinking was a way to alleviate one’s fears when having to disseminate Torah. We are in a free world.
The Rebbe writes in Igros that today we have the Frierdiker Rebbe’s teachings which gives us everything we need as a Chasid. It substitutes for drinking.
Please view the attached video for more details:
Wishing you kabalas haTirah bsincha ubpnimius.
Agree
I was once with a friend and suggested let’s have a fabregen. He said to me you don’t really want to fabreg, you just want to drink. So at least say what it is. You want to have some drinks. That’s not a fabregen. Afabregen is deep and meaningfull. Drinking is the kiddish on shabbos day.
Andrea Karshan
I am an ex Muslim Jewish convert. And one thing that was good about Islam is no drinking. Drinking benefits no one. Use grape juice instead. Drinking is bad for your physical and mental health. We as a Jewish community should be doing a lot less of it.
Rabbi Chaim Dalfin
Even at Shabbos kiddush, one shouldn’t drink! You say lchaim on small cup, and it need not be full. We made to make a paradigm shift Abt the whole idea. Chasidim of old had a very different idea…read the Frierdiker Rebbe’s sichos and you’ll see.
Anonymous
WADR, R. Dalfin, that request is going to have a hard time competing with a long-standing tradition that, for better or worse, includes an alarming number of references to severe alcohol abuse.
Stav Ya Pitu and Nye Zhuritse Khlopsi are some of the better known examples.
Rabbi Chaim Dalfin
Ms. Karshan PL email me info@rabbidalfin com
Re the old Chabad culture sanctioning drinking, the songs you quote mean something entirely different…look at the Rebbe’s explanation of those nigunim
P. McDonald
To say that drinking is not an old Lubavitch tradition is a lie. To tell lies is the worst sin
Okay...
At engagement partys.. many bouchrim will get blackout drunk. Smashing glass. Saying foul language. Breaking furniture. And disrespecting each other. Its a major problem.
Rabbi Chaim Dalfin
You misunderstood me…PL write privately at info@rabbidalfin.com