Why is wine so essential to Judaism? All of our sacred occasions are accompanied by the drinking of wine. During Kiddush, Havdala, Weddings, Sheva Brachot, Brit Mila and the 4 Cups on Pesach wine is required. Why??

To find the answer we must look into the Talmud. The Talmud discusses the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, wondering what type of fruit it was (Berachot 40a, Sanhedrin 70 a-b). Three opinions are presented.

According to one opinion, the forbidden fruit was wheat. This suggestion is innovative since wheat stalks are not normally considered trees.

Another opinion in the Talmud states that the forbidden fruit was a fig, for it was a fig leaf that was later used to cover Adam and Eve's nudity (see Bereshit 3:7). According to this approach, the very item that brought about the spiritual downfall of the first human couple was sewn together to cover up their embarrassing state.

At the root of this approach is the idea that the same object can be used to wreak destruction as well as to repair all that is wrong. It is in this vein that the prophet tells us that in the Messianic Era the sharp metal of the deadly sword will be made into plows for preparing the land to provide sustenance to all mankind. (See Yeshayahu 2:4).

According to the first opinion cited in the Talmud, the forbidden fruit in Gan Eden was a grape vine, since it is always wine that is the source of human misery. To prove this contention, the Talmud cites the passage where Noach partook of wine and became drunk (see Bereshit 9:2).

Noach and his family came out of the Ark to a new, idyllic world. All evil had been destroyed, and what remained was pure. Noach quickly began life anew by working the cleansed land and planting a vineyard. The produce of this vineyard was made into wine, and when Noach drank and became intoxicated, his behavior and that of his son, Cham, was grossly inappropriate. Thus the new beginning - just like G‑d’s initial program – was sullied by wine.

While the Talmud doesn't quote this, another biblical episode provides a similar lesson (see Bereshit 19:30-36). After Lot and his daughters escaped the destruction of Sodom, they reached the safety of a cave. The two girls mistakenly believed that the entire world had been destroyed. In a desperate move, they conclude that they must have children by their father to ensure the continuation of humanity.

Yet, how could a father agree to such a depraved and immoral act? The solution suggested by the older daughter and implemented by the two women is to get Lot so drunk on wine that he would be oblivious to any sin that he committed. This decadent plan succeeded, and both daughters became pregnant by their very own father!

Thus, in an attempt to reverse this tragic trend, at every Sabbath and Yom Tov we seek to repair the initial damage from the Garden of Eden. Wine should no longer be a tool that brings about grief and sin. Instead, wine should be used in the service of spiritual growth and sanctification.

All G‑d’s creations are tools for bringing G‑dliness into this physical world. Despite the woeful history of wine, we do not abstain from this hazardous drink. We seek to sanctify wine on occasions of potential spiritual growth.

Instead of relegating wine to the annals of vice and sin, it is elevated to open each and every Jewish ritual service, proudly announcing that physical objects have neutral value. We choose how to employ G-d's creations and write their history. Will they be recorded as tools of corruption and sin or as objects of holiness that repair this broken world? (TIKUN OLAM)

G‑d created the Tree of Knowledge of Good & Evil. We choose and decide whether Knowledge is to be used for good or evil. A classic example is the internet, which contains evil, or www.rabbisprecher.com. You make the Call!