Wednesday, December 26, 2012

[mtexthwl] Purim and sex

The instruction to drink heavily at Purim surely has the side effect of some sex between people that would not have occurred if everyone were sober.  Have Jewish religious scholars through the ages written about and come to any conclusions about this phenomenon?  Of course, this is tremendously relevant today with alcohol often playing a significant role in rape, particularly date rape.

On one hand, I speculate that the very powerful social structures to control who has sex with whom remain in place, perhaps even especially reinforced (How? This is relevant today.) for Purim; on the other hand, alcohol, especially with literally everyone drinking, can cause any social barrier to fail.

Drink so heavily you can no longer distinguish right from wrong, Mordecai from Haman.

Update: Megillah 7b addresses social structures to prevent homicide failing because of Purim.

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