![Abba Shaul’s Bone Forensics Concerning Wine [Niddah 24b]](https://jewishdrinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Abba-Shaul-was-a-gravedigger-and-reported-the-effects-of-the-wine-on-bones.jpg)
Abba Shaul’s Bone Forensics Concerning Wine [Niddah 24b]
A rather curious text occurs featuring Abba Shaul discussing his experiences as someone who buried corpses (Niddah 24b): תניא אבא שאול אומר קובר מתים הייתי והייתי מסתכל בעצמות של מתים השותה יין חי עצמותיו שרופין מזוג עצמותיו סכויין כראוי עצמותיו משוחין וכל מי ששתייתו מרובה מאכילתו עצמותיו שרופין אכילתו מרובה משתייתו עצמותיו סכויין כראוי עצמותיו […]
![Drinking on Purim [Megillah 7b]](https://jewishdrinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/beer-glasses.jpg)
Drinking on Purim [Megillah 7b]
An updated and expanded version of this essay may be found as “Rava’s Innovative Obligating of Getting Drunk on Purim” Introduction One of the more familiar aspects of Purim practices is getting drunk, with Purim being one of the most drinking-heavy days on the Jewish calendar. While neither the Mishnah nor Tosefta mentions any such […]
![Storing Beer in Jugs that Had Been Gentile-Owned [AZ 33b]](https://jewishdrinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Sasanian-jugs.jpg)
Storing Beer in Jugs that Had Been Gentile-Owned [AZ 33b]
A huge concern for the rabbis was the consumption of gentile wine, as it could be used in libations, which was a problematic issue for the rabbis. In a discussion of using jugs that gentiles had previously owned (beginning on the bottom of AZ 33a (starting with תנו רבנן: קנקנים של עובדי כוכבים)), while the […]
![The Amoraic Prohibition Against Gentile Beer? [AZ 31b]](https://jewishdrinking.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/gentile-beer.jpg)
The Amoraic Prohibition Against Gentile Beer? [AZ 31b]
A curious text emerges on Avodah Zarah 31b: אתמר מפני מה אסרו שכר של גוים רמי בר חמא אמר רבי יצחק משום חתנות רב נחמן אמר משום גילוי It was stated: On account of what did they forbid gentiles’ beer? Rami, son of Hama said from Rabbi Yizhak’s name: “On account of [inter]marriage.” Rav Nahman […]
Blessing for Different Wine
While there is a well-known tannaitic teaching that one says a blessing – בורא פרי הגפן (Creator of the fruits of the vine) – over wine (mBerakhot 6:1), one of the interesting blessings that is created during the period of the amoraim is that over drinking different wine (bBerakhot 59b): אמר רב יוסף בר אבא […]