Jews, sacred wine and rates of alcoholism



I was led to this subject as I was researching an upcoming piece on Hannukah, which begins on Saturday evening. But I’ve since seen other pieces exploring the debate over how much this phenomenon of lower alcoholism rates might be a result of either religion or genetics. Or both.

SFU ethics professor Mark Wexler, an influential figure in Metro Vancouver’s Jewish community, got me thinking about it. He was describing being asked to drink with rabbis and other religious mentors when he was a young age in Montreal. It’s part of a tantalizing and convincing theory about why alcoholism rates are low among Jews.

I’ve since learned that Kiddish cups, used for drinking sacred wine, are often given to young Jewish children. In Hebrew tradition wine is the “king of beverages.” Certainly, it can be a source of destruction. But it is more often associated with joy. That is part of why children are introduced to wine at young ages — so they will not associate drinking with rebelling against their parents or their religion.

Here’s an evocative bit of what Mark Wexler had to say on this subject:

With regards to alcohol consumption the key, in my view, is the Sabbath. Here, on every Friday night wine is served with the prayers. Fathers and mothers, uncles and aunts, neighbours and Jews from the neighbourhood who are alone, all in their good clothes, pass around the ‘Koss” or large wine cup. It is often drunk communally. Little hands are given the cup and more often than not encouraged to partake.

I recall my grandfather and his friends – older gentleman to say the least – inviting me and other 7 or 8 year olds after Sabbath synagogue services (Sat morning) to the post service  “shul” snack. This included herring and onions, often boiled eggs and always wine and schnapps. The old men with what a child assumes was God at their side, encouraged the lads to take a nip which they carefully served and monitored.

Then they began to tell stories, often embellished and filtered through old country lore, about what we had read in today’s service. And with the wine and smell of pickled herring and onions, the warmth of the liquor many a child of my youth imagined walking the dusty hills of Galilee.

With regards to the socialization of children to the family-based (non-rebellious) aspects of alcohol, Passover is the holiday that clearly integrates it in the ritual and as well teaches the child (via the afikoman) to negotiate with adults for the meal’s ritual dessert.

The Hannukah focus on alcohol is less so. But, in the midst of a lesson on miracles, Hannukah attends to chance and gambling.

(NOTE TO READERS: The issue of introducing children to gambling in a sacred context, through the dreidel, is one I taken up in my upcoming column for Hannukah.)

RELATED: Hannukah spotlights light and luck

Why Hanukkah is not ‘the Jewish Christmas’

Jewish and Christian Passover tension evolves


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