Drunken behaviour over Purim a blot on Jewish community

Lionel Stein, Johannesburg

We fortunately had no deaths and hopefully among our youth we are so far unaware of any unreported rapes this Purim. There were, however, many cases of people being hospitalised with alcohol poisoning, including many underage girls.

I can well imagine how our Lithuanian forefathers are turning in their graves over our drunken behaviour on Purim.  

Unfortunately many rabbis, shuls and Jewish institution, believe the only way to achieve the goal of not knowing the difference between Mordechai and Haman is to be rip-roaring drunk.  

Obviously the other extreme way of achieving this goal is to go to sleep, because then you certainly wouldn’t know the difference.

If men are insistent on getting drunk, I have no problem if they are on their own and transport is arranged to take the inebriated home. I feel sorry for their families, but if that is what Judaism is about, so be it.

My concern is about the women, irrespective of their age, but particularly those still at school or recently post-school.  

Ensure you know where your daughters are on Purim. Don’t be misled by the fact that they might be at a reputable institution. If alcohol is on offer, your daughter’s respectability and dignity are seriously at risk.

Heaven forbid your underage daughter should have consensual sex or be raped!

It is time that the rabbis and community leaders collectively speak out against this scourge and let us try and return to the morals of our Litvak grandparents and great-grandparents.

To the community and parents in particular: You are warned. Beware!