Living right with the Rambam.
Knowledge is Power -- G-dly Knowledge is SUPER POWER
The following are the actual words of the great physician,
philosopher, and codifier of Jewish Law, Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon – HaRambam
1138-1204, from his magnum opus Yad Hachazakah – the strong hand, on the topic
of becoming a DRUNK.
A human being is ALWAYS held responsible for his/her deeds.
A Human being is considered mu'ad (forewarned) at all times
- whether acting intentionally or unintentionally, whether asleep or awake or
intoxicated. If he injures a colleague or damages a colleague's property, he
must always reimburse him from his choicest property.
When is a person who causes damage while asleep required to
make restitution? When they both went to sleep at the same time, and one turned
over and injured his colleague or tore his garment. If, however, a person was
sleeping and a colleague came and lay down next to him, only the one who lay
down afterwards is considered mu'ad. If the person sleeping injures the one who
came afterwards, he is not liable.
Similarly, if a person places a utensil next to a person who
is sleeping, and the one who is sleeping breaks it, he is not liable. For the
one who placed the article down was the one who was mu'ad and who acted with
negligence.
Chovel uMazzik - Chapter One - Halacha 11
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A drunk is a sinner and shameful.
When a wise man drinks wine, he drinks only enough to soften
the food in his stomach.
Whoever becomes drunk is a sinner, is shameful, and will
lose his wisdom. If he becomes drunk before the common people, he desecrates
G-d's Name.
It is forbidden to drink even a small quantity of wine in
the afternoon hours, unless it is taken together with food. Drink that is taken
together with food is not intoxicating. Only wine taken after the meal is to be
avoided.
De'ot - Chapter Five
- Halacha 3
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*****Impossible to serve G-d while in the midst of levity,
frivolity, or drunkenness.*****
When a person eats, drinks, and celebrates on a festival, he
should not let himself become overly drawn to drinking wine, mirth, and levity,
saying, "whoever indulges in these activities more is increasing [his
observance of] the mitzvah of rejoicing." For drunkenness, profuse mirth,
and levity are not rejoicing; they are frivolity and foolishness.
And we were not commanded to indulge in frivolity or
foolishness, but rather in rejoicing that involves the service of the Creator
of all existence. Thus, [Deuteronomy 28:47] states, "Because you did not
serve G-d, Your Lord, with happiness and a glad heart with an abundance of
prosperity." This teaches us that service [of G-d] involves joy. And it is
impossible to serve G-d while in the midst of levity, frivolity, or
drunkenness.
Shevitat Yom Tov - Chapter Six – Halacha 20
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A person drunk like Lot, has made himself mentally
incompetent.
A drunken man is considered to be responsible for his
actions. A sale, a purchase or a present involving him is binding. If, however,
his drunken state approaches that of Lot- i.e., he is so drunk that he does not
realize what he is doing - his deeds are of no consequence. It is as if he were
a mentally incompetent person or a child below the age of six.
Mechirah - Chapter Twenty Nine – Halacha 18
========================
Keep away from drunkenness and gluttony.
For a person who is intoxicated not to enter the Temple nor
to render a halachic decision, as [Leviticus 10:9] states: "Do not drink
wine or strong drink when you enter the Tent of Testimony," and [ibid.,
10:11] states: "or when you render a decision for the children of Israel”
Negative commandments 73
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**** The punishment in stages for evil speech. The speech of proper Jewish people, only
concerns words of Torah and wisdom.*****
Tzara'at is a collective term including many afflictions
that do not resemble each other. For the whitening of a person's skin is called
tzara'at, as is the falling out of some of the hair of his head or beard, and
the change of the color of clothes or houses.
……... Instead it is a sign and a wonder prevalent among the
Jewish people to warn them against lashon hora, "undesirable speech."
…………………………..In this vein, Psalms 73:9 states: "They set
their mouths against Heaven and their tongues strut on earth." What caused
them to "set their mouths against Heaven"? Their tongues which
previously were given free reign on earth. This is the speech of the wicked
that is caused by loitering on the street corners, frequenting the assemblies
of commoners, and spending time at the parties of drunkards.
In contrast, the speech of proper Jewish people only
concerns words of Torah and wisdom. Therefore, the Holy One, blessed be He,
assists them and grants them merit because of it, as Malachi 3:16 states:
"Then those who fear God conversed, each person with his fellow and God
listened and paid heed. And a book of remembrance was composed before Him for
those who fear God and contemplate His name."
Tum'at Tsara`at - Chapter 16 Halacha 10
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