{"id":85497,"date":"2020-12-27T18:06:03","date_gmt":"2020-12-27T16:06:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=85497"},"modified":"2020-12-27T18:13:23","modified_gmt":"2020-12-27T16:13:23","slug":"lechayim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/lechayim\/","title":{"rendered":"Lechayim!"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[],"acf":{"old_id":"85497","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":64450,"related_cahpter":"642","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_create_date":"","old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"Drinking oneself to life\r\n\r\n","content":"

In Psalm 75, the psalmist states that ultimate judgement comes from God: \u201cFor God it is who gives judgment; He brings down one man, He lifts up another.\u201d (75:8)<\/span><\/p>\n

He then continues to use the metaphor of wine to describe that judgement: \u201cThere is a cup in the LORD\u2019s hand with foaming wine fully mixed; from this He pours; all the wicked of the earth drink, draining it to the very dregs.\u201d (75:9)<\/span><\/p>\n

Wine is frequently used in biblical imagery. Sometimes it\u2019s in the positive sense, as in \u201cthe cup of salvation\u201d (Psalms 116:13). This may not be surprising, since wine is commonly used as part of celebrations.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, the number of occasions where wine is associated with anger is perhaps unexpected. In addition to our verse, we find similar uses in Psalms 60:5, Isaiah 51:22 and Jeremiah 25:15. This wine is a \u201ccup of wrath\u201d \u2013 not salvation.<\/span><\/p>\n

How would wine be used as a punishment? One possibility is that the wine itself was poisoned. But I think another scenario may be more likely.<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Talmud (Sanhedrin 43a) it states that before the condemned was executed, he was given a cup of wine. This may have been a merciful act \u2013 so he wouldn\u2019t feel the pain \u2013 but it certainly had an ominous connotation. The midrash (Tanchuma Pekudei) goes further, and says that after investigating someone accused of a capital crime, the court would say \u2013 <\/span>savri maranan<\/span><\/em>\u00a0–<\/span><\/i>\u00a0 \u201cHave the gentlemen formed an opinion?\u201d And they say, if to life <\/span>lechayim<\/span><\/em>\u00a0– to life, and if to death, <\/span>lemavet<\/span><\/em>\u00a0– to death.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Because of the association of wine with capital punishment, there was a need to put a more positive spin on the drink. And so the midrash continues, and says that one says <\/span>kiddush<\/span><\/em>\u00a0or <\/span>havdala<\/span><\/em>, after saying <\/span>savri maranan<\/span><\/em>, those present should say <\/span>lechaim<\/span><\/em>!<\/span><\/i>. This cup should be for life, not for death.<\/span><\/p>\n

This is the source of the most popular Jewish toast \u2013 <\/span>Lechaim<\/span><\/em>!.<\/span><\/i> But as we\u2019ve seen, it means much more than \u201cCheers!\u201d Wine can be used for good or bad, either for nations metaphorically, or individuals. Only if we \u201cchoose life,\u201d will the consequences of drinking it be positive.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

image: \u05dc\u05d7\u05d9\u05d9\u05dd –\u00a0 Lechaim! 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