‘Must Get Rid Of Chametz Before Pesach’ Pretext Invoked To Justify Drinking

“You can’t be too careful in the service of God,” the drinkers explain, intoxicated by, among other things, their pursuit of righteousness.

Jerusalem, March 30 – The approaching Jewish festival of Passover, during which the Torah bars the possession, let alone consumption, of products containing or derived from leavened grain, has again featured in several local residents’ arsenal of excuses to indulge in excessive alcohol consumption, local sources reported Wednesday.

Witnesses counted more than a dozen cases in the last week of men – always men – invoking the upcoming ban on chametz to help them pretend to themselves and others that drinking whisky beyond moderation constitutes not an irresponsible, selfish vice, but a noble effort to enable the household to better-adhere to the Biblical admonition to rid one’s home of chametz in time for Pesach.

“Well, this has to be finished before Pesach,” came the refrain on more than once occasion. “Wouldn’t want to have to rely on leniencies in the interpretation of Jewish law by merely selling it and buying it back afterwards.”

“We really must finish this,” also made several appearances, referring to bottles both opened and unopened of scotch, vodka, liqueurs, beer, gin, and other spirits containing alcohol from fermented grain.

Even more assiduous drinkers have taken care to put a dent in the home’s supply of bourbon, which derives not from wheat, barley, or rye, but from corn, a plant not included in the Biblical roster of grains because it then existed only in the Americas, unknown to the ancient Levant. However, Medieval European Jewish communities began refraining from the consumption – though not possession – of products made even with rice or legumes, as a precaution against consuming the forbidden type. Ashkenazic practice maintains these restrictions, but still does not mandate the destruction, annulment, or pre-festival sale of such products. Nevertheless, a number of extra-stringent souls have decided to go the extra step and use up even the bourbon. They invoke the same motivation vis-à-vis molasses-derived rum.

“You can’t be too careful in the service of God,” the drinkers explain, intoxicated by, among other things, their pursuit of righteousness.

Unconfirmed but frequent reports also have several householders making sure to increase their purchasing of, for example, beer, in the weeks before Passover, as a way to ensure they have the wherewithal to fulfill the get-rid-of-chametz commandment more fully. “It’s not a proper mitzva if it’s not done to the proper degree,” they insisted.

Experts believe the practice has roots in the bizarre phenomenon of how Jews observe the festival of Purim, exactly one month before Passover, by sending one another food packages containing large quantities of grain-based products.

Please support our work through Patreon.