Author: James Anderson

Yale Scientist Explains Why Alcoholism is Rare Among Jews Jewish Telegraphic Agency

On the other hand, they study also underscores the presence of risk factors within certain religious communities where excessive alcohol may be use, tolerates, or even encourages. Understanding these nuances is crucial for public health initiatives and interventions aimed at reducing alcohol related problems within specific religious contexts. The association between drinking alcohol and one’s religious affiliation has been the subject of research, which has shown that it is not always the same across religions. Due to the moral and social precepts of their religion, several religious groups place a strong emphasis in control, which results in lower rates of alcohol consumption among its followers. In contrast, risk factors may support or tolerate excessive alcohol consumption within some religious communities. A later responsum on this subject was written by Rabbi Elliot N. Dorff and also accepted by the CJLS.[10] Dorff noted that not all wines are made by automated processes, and thus the reasoning behind Silverman’s responsum was not conclusively reliable in all cases.

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2. Others have allocated a specific place for it, such as in the Christian practice of using wine during the Eucharist rite.
3. In Adi Shankara’s Shankara Bhashya[23] and Ramanuja’s Sri Bhasya[24] on Brahma Sutras, they quote Kathaka Samhita against drinking alcohol while some sects, like the Aghori, use it as part of their ritual.
4. A twice-born person, having, through folly, drunk wine, shall drink wine red-hot; he becomes freed from his guilt, when his body has been completely burnt by it.
5. And as members of a minority group, they tend to guard against behavior, like excessive drinking, that would act to their discredit, he stated.

Alcohol consumption in America and its connection to religious affiliation is a significant sociological and cultural issue. In the United States, different religious traditions have different views on alcohol, ranging from full abstinence in certain faiths to the promotion of responsible and moderate usage in others. This variety reflects the varied society of the nation, where followers of many faiths deal with alcohol in various ways. The wretched Brahmana who from this day, unable to resist the temptation, will drink wine shall be regarded as having lost his virtue, shall be reckoned to have committed the sin of slaying a Brahmana, shall be hated both in this and the other worlds. Let the honest, let Brahmanas, let those with regard for their superiors, let the gods, let the three worlds, listen!.

Yale Scientist Explains Why Alcoholism is Rare Among Jews

Whether you’re shopping for Hanukkah or any other celebratory occasion, or just like to keep a well-stocked home bar all year long, you’ve got plenty of options. This is what you need to know about kosher spirits, plus a list of our all-time favorites. But their sin is greater than their benefit.” And they ask you what they should spend. Say, “The excess [beyond needs]. Thus Allah makes clear to you the verses [of revelation] that you might give thought. In Adi Shankara’s Shankara Bhashya[23] and Ramanuja’s Sri Bhasya[24] on Brahma Sutras, they quote Kathaka Samhita against drinking alcohol while some sects, like the Aghori, use it as part of their ritual.

The Manu Smriti, a key text outlining the norms and codes of conduct for various social classes, prescribes different regulations for alcohol consumption among castes. For the Vaishya caste, which includes merchants and traders, and the Shudra caste, comprising laborers and service providers, the Manu Smriti lays down specific rules and restrictions regarding alcohol consumption. It is important to note that the caste-based rules on alcohol consumption, like many other aspects of the caste system, have been subject to criticism and reinterpretation in modern times.

Historical religions

In general, per the Bible, basic factors that would render a food or drink item non-kosher include specific animal products (pork, rabbit, birds of prey, catfish, sturgeon, most insects and any shellfish or reptile). Animal products that do fall under the kosher umbrella, such as grass-eating mammals with cloven hooves and fish with scales and fins, must be prepared in accordance with dietary law outlined by the Bible. In recent times, there has been an increased demand for kosher wines, and a number of wine-producing countries now produce a wide variety of sophisticated kosher wines under strict rabbinical supervision, particularly in Israel, the United States, France, Germany, Italy, South Africa, Chile,[3] and Australia.

Some religions emphasize moderation and responsible use as a means of honoring the divine gift of life, while others impose outright bans on alcohol as a means of honoring the divine gift of life. Moreover, within the same religious tradition, there are many adherents that may interpret and practice their faith’s teachings on alcohol in diverse ways. Hence, a wide range of factors, such as religious affiliation, levels of religiosity, cultural traditions, family influences, and peer networks, collectively influence the dynamics of this relationship. Some denominations have traditionally upheld temperance as a core value, which results in lower rates of alcohol consumption due to the moral and societal teachings of their faith.

Silverman noted that some classical Jewish authorities believed that Christians are not considered idolaters, and that their products cannot be considered forbidden in this regard. Based on 15th–19th century precedents in the responsa literature, he concluded that wines manufactured by this automated process may not be classified as wine “manufactured by gentiles”, and thus are not prohibited by Jewish law. This responsum makes no attempt to change halakhah in any way, but rather argues that most American wine, made in an automated fashion, is already kosher by traditional halakhic standards.

Please email us at [email protected], subject line “republish,” with any questions or to let us know what stories you’re picking up. Several interviewees spoke as though the two were “inseparable.” More importantly, alcohol accompanied food — not the other way around. While the consensus does in fact indicate that Jews have lower rates of alcohol dependency, that doesn’t free Jews from addiction problems.

Even though Jews are less likely to be alcoholics — or perhaps because of that — Jews with alcohol problems are more likely to feel ostracized. As such Dorff’s teshuvah states that synagogues should hold themselves to a stricter standard so that all in the Jewish community will view the synagogue’s kitchen as fully kosher. As such, Conservative synagogues are encouraged to use only wines with a hekhsher, and preferably wines from Israel.

Requirements for being kosher

Contemporary Hinduism has seen a shift towards a more egalitarian perspective, emphasizing individual choice and responsibility in matters such as alcohol consumption, rather than strict adherence to caste-based rules. In addition, Gayle M. Wells’ study titled “The effect of religiosity and campus alcohol culture on collegiate alcohol consumption,”[63] the complex relationship between religiosity, campus culture, and alcohol consumption among college students is meticulously examined. By employing reference group theory as a theoretical framework, Wells explores the ways in which the behavior and attitudes of peers and the broader campus environment impact the alcohol consumption patterns of college students who may hold varying levels of religiosity. The research reveal that students who identify as highly religious (e.g., attending religious services regularly, engaging in religious practices) are less likely to consume alcohol and engage in binge drinking compared to their less religious peers. This outcome could be attributed to the strong moral and religious values held by highly religious students, which discourage alcohol consumption. However, even among highly religious students, those who are exposed to a pervasive campus alcohol culture are more likely to engage in alcohol consumption compared to their counterparts in a more alcohol-restricted campus environment.

In the Shinto religion of Japan, sake, a rice wine, plays a significant role in religious ceremonies and rituals. Sake is often used as an offering to the kami (gods) during Shinto rituals, symbolizing purification and the establishment of a sacred space. Additionally, the sharing of sake between participants in a Shinto ceremony is seen as a means of fostering friendship and strengthening the bonds within the community. In Vajrayana Buddhism, particularly in Tibetan Buddhist practices, alcohol may be used during specific rituals, such as the Ganachakra feast. This ritual involves the consumption of alcohol in a controlled manner, symbolizing the transformation of negative emotions and attachments into wisdom and compassion.

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Over the last two decades, the number of OU-approved distilled spirits has increased staggeringly, according to the New York-based organization, which is the world’s largest kosher certification authority. In order to bear the official symbol (a tiny “U” inside of an “O”), a spirit must be made from grain or sugar. It can’t be produced from grapes and can’t be aged in a non-kosher wine barrel (there are separate rules for making kosher wine and grape-based brandy). That means Scotch whisky—or anything else, for that matter—that has been aged or finished in a sherry, port or wine cask generally is not allowed. And, of course, any other ingredients used—and the distillery itself—also have to pass muster. Today, the guidelines for kosher food and drinks are an amalgam of both ancient and contemporary rulings.