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Can you use liquor instead of wine for the mitzvah of Ad Dlo Yoda? Is there any Posek who allows you to be yotzeh specifically with Liquor?

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Please dont use the question as a Platform do speak against drinking on Purim – SimchasTorah Mar 18 '11 at 19:13
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Do you mean liquor exclusively, or is a combination of wine nad liquor in scope? (I don't know if that makes a difference but maybe somebody else does.) – Monica Cellio♦ Dec 6 '11 at 18:48
Related: judaism.stackexchange.com/q/6396/5 – Seth J Aug 10 '12 at 18:40

4 Answers

up vote 9 down vote

Many, many poskim (Rambam included) say the mitzva is specifically wine. Chayei Adam observes that this is to commemorate the Purim miracle which occurs over a series of scenes, all set at wine-drinking parties.

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This makes sense, even though it contradicts my assumption that it is primarily about drunkenness, but I would still assert that any form of alcohol which can be used to enhance the drunkenness would be ok, and that one would not fulfill the requirement (assuming it is a firm requirement) with mere grape juice. – Seth J Mar 18 '11 at 20:24
OK so the Mitzvah Bhiddur would be wine but are you yotzeh with Mixing or Just Booze – SimchasTorah Mar 18 '11 at 20:59
see also my post on drinking on purm, specifically point #4. parsha.blogspot.com/2010/02/… basically, i assert there that it was not the alcohol in the wine that was getting them so "drunk", because scientifically, it could not have exceeded 14% prior to their diluting it. – josh waxman Mar 21 '11 at 12:33
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This doesn't seem to answer the question. – Double AA♦ Dec 5 '11 at 6:31
Grant the Chaye Adam's observation. Why does that have to do with ad d'lo yada? Can those two "requirements" be separated? – YDK Dec 6 '11 at 18:40
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up vote 4 down vote

The Gemara says (Megila 7b) "Hayab Inish LeBisumi Ad Delo Yada...- a man must get drunk until he doesn't know..." However, in that statement it doesn't mention wine. Wine is usually the methodology used but I don't see any Mamashut to it being MeIkar HaDin (i.e. not MeChuyav).

One of my Rabbanim (who I was told is a Posek) says wine is unnecessary and that any alcohol would suffice.

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It certainly isn't in Shulhan Aruch. – Hacham Gabriel Dec 7 '11 at 21:44
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See Rashi there, who defines "Livsumei" as "Getting Drunk on Wine". It's still an open question whether Rashi meant ONLY wine, or if he meant the type of inebriation that wine provides (vs. the type cannabis or opium provides). Most seem to assume the latter, because the prevalent custom is to drink all kinds of alcoholic beverages at the Purim meal. – user1095 Feb 2 '12 at 16:00
@user1095 or most people don't think about it and just like drinking. – Double AA♦ Feb 15 at 18:33
up vote 4 down vote

Rav Shmuel Kamentsky holds one can use anything (kovetz Halachos perek 18:11).

He discusses many sources including the Tur, Shulchan Aruch, Chayei Adam, and more poskim. He also cites the Aruch Hashulchan 695:5 with a savorah of one could use יי"ש but shouldn't for other reasons. He also discusses Minchas Elazar 695 בשבילי דוד and the קהילות יעקב.

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Where in the Tur or SA dos it say that?? – Double AA♦ Feb 19 at 2:41
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He says from a stam reading it is משמע that one has to drink more than usual,but not wine davka is mentioned. – sam Feb 19 at 2:46
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That's a big difference. You should include that in your answer. By that reasoning though, why not just quote the gemara and be done with it? That's all the SA is doing: quoting the gemara word for word. – Double AA♦ Feb 19 at 2:48
Because the Rambam does hold davka seemingly.Since the Tur and Shulchan Aruch don't it could mean Stam. – sam Feb 19 at 3:10
The Aruch Hashulchan is a good source. – sam Feb 19 at 3:10
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up vote 2 down vote

While there are authorities who hold that the mitzvah is specifically on wine The Shevilei Dovid Orach Chayim 695:3 permits fulfilling the mitzvah using other alcoholic beverages.

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