(c) Apr 18 2001 RashiYomi Inc. MY COLLECTED & INDEXED MAIL JEWISH POSTINGS-Ver #1
Individual Postings 1st appeared(& were copied in html form) on the Email List Mail Jewish

From: rhendel@mcs.drexel.edu (Russell Hendel)
Date: Mon, 6 Jan 1997 13:17:01 -0500
Subject: Drinking On Purim: 3 Examples: 1 Rule

1) Rachi Messing [v25n58] asks about the "mitzvah" of drinking on Yom
Tov. The talmud [Megillah 7b] states "One should drink on Purim until
one doesn't know the difference between 'Bless Mordechai' and 'Curse
Haman'". The Rambam however [Megillah, 2:15] modifies this to exclude
damages: "A person should drink till he falls asleep."

2) It is a well established custom that people "throw candy" at a
Chathan when he gets his Ofroof aliyah on the Shabbath before his
wedding. However in the synagogue where I am now affiliated there were
several instances of children being a little bit too enthuiastic and
some people were hurt in a minor way (mostly other children). The Rabbi
of my synagogue therefore instituted the custom of using a trap door in
the ceiling which is pulled open so that the candy can "fall" on the
chathan.

3) The Talmud [Baba Metziah, 56] explains that the laws governing the
responsibility of lenders and watchers of articles do not apply e.g. to
temple loans or to real estate. A remarkable Rambam [Hire, 2:3] states:
But of course a lender of real estate is only exempt from
responsibility in e.g.  cases of theft..but if the lender damaged the
property than "obviously" he is liable."  The Rambam concludes: "..And
this is 'clear' to those who really understand matters."

In all 3 cases certain leniencies---to get drunk, throw candy, not be
responsible for watched articles--do NOT override the prohibitions of
negligence and damage.

Russell Jay Hendel, Ph.d., ASA, rhendel @ mcs drexel edu