Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb, executive vice president of the Orthodox Union, wrote before Simchat Torah in a letter to parents, rabbis and teachers, an extremely important message.
He was writing to bring our attention to the growing problem of underage drinking. His letter, which can be found on http://www.ou.org, is extremely important.
No one, he writes, should over indulge in alcohol on Simchat Torah. We’ve seen it in our community where packs of teens walk from one shul the next to find yet another open bottle.
Where is it written that we are supposed to drink on Simchat Torah?
To me, it is just so ironic that we wouldn’t think of drinking and then driving a car. Yet, it’s okay to be drunk, be handed a Torah, God’s very word, and walk around during a hakafah or circuit in our shul.
Is the value of a car higher than a Torah?
The answer is, we would do everything in our power to keep an inebriated person from operating an automobile. Yet, we don’t do anything in our power to keep them from carrying a Torah, while drunk, on Simchat Torah.
It’s no joke.
Parents, watch your children, but at the same time be an example to your children.
You don’t have to do shots to enjoy this holiday.
The honor of carrying that Torah, holding that Torah for your congregation and your family, there’s nothing more joyous this holiday.
If you need a drink to get you to that spiritual level, your joy could use a little professional counsel.
Don’t forget, not only is HaShem “watching” you, so are your children.

Wouldn’t it be great if Rabbi Weinreb would write a letter talking about the fact that children are more likely to be abused in their home during the high holidays and pesach then during any other time of the year.

The reason being is that there is much more tension in a home and finances may be stretch a further.

Paragraph 2 should read that….“measures should be taken to avoid TEENAGERS consumption…”

You assume that the people that would carry a Torah drunk on Simchas Torah wouldn’t think of driving in the same state - I think you are mistaken.

While I agree that alcohol consumption is a serious problem, even in the religious community, and that measures should be taken to avoid their consumption of it on Simchas Torah, I disagree with your general disdain for those who imbibe responsibly.

Judaism, whether it be with reciting Kiddush over a cup of wine or the Four Cups on Passover, has always, historically, involved alcohol in spiritual practice. While I agree that one who NEEDS to drink to attain a spiritual level is acting improperly and may even require professional help, there are many of us who don’t NEED it, but rather use it as an aid to reach a higher spiritual level.

Again, I am not defending alcohol use as it relates to many social and society pressures, but to imply that it’s use serves no purpose goes against Jewish history and the teaching of many Chassidic, and other, Rabbis.