Originally published in the Jewish Journal · Table for Five
Manuscript version.
“I led you through the wilderness for forty years; the clothes on your back did not wear out, nor did the sandals on your feet. You neither ate bread, nor drank wine nor other intoxicating drink, so that you would know that I am the Lord, your God. -Deut. 29:4-5
G-d provides for all the Israelites’ needs during their forty years wandering in the desert. Clothes and shoes and manna, the ultimate substitute for bread because it satisfies any craving you can imagine. But what substitutes for wine and strong drink? Why mention it at all, since it would be impractical to grow a vineyard when you’ll be going nomad again any time, and why mention it alongside benefits instead of punishments? I mean, really? No happy hour for forty years?
The key to understanding may lie in the story of the spies. They brought back a giant cluster of grapes from their scouting missing to the Promised Land, the very symbol of Israeli tourism today (there’s a fine irony, or maybe some revenge). It showed off the promise of the land to produce wine which it fulfills today wonderfully. But the spies also brought back a cowardly report, so their entire generation was forced to wander, deemed unworthy. Or so it appears.
Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi taught that the spies actually had the loftiest intentions. Relieved of slavery or any other sort of work, they loved living in spiritual bliss dedicated to delving Torah. The austerity of the desert gave them unimpeded communion with G-d. The need to go to war, to occupy Canaan was a threat to them, and wine meant ploughing, planting, harvesting, fermenting … a poor substitute for transcendent intoxication in the desert.
In short, the spies feared that by conquering Israel and doing all the pedestrian work to survive on their own and building a nation, they would crash from their spiritual high. Their sandals would wear out. Their feet would touch the dust.
This is what G-d seems to be telling us: “I took care of all your needs and deprived you of wine and booze so you would know – be intoxicated – with Me.” But this is only the premise for entering Israel and fulfilling your real promise and destiny.
Levitating ecstasy and delirious intoxication, even with holy matters, takes us away from our even holier duty to live in reality. There we have to learn to govern the world … and ourselves.
