כתובות ה

A חסיד who drank too much refused to lay off the bottle until the רבי decreed that all wine and alcohol was forbidden to him.  The חסיד obeyed his רבי but within a matter of days he lost his appetite, he couldn’t sleep and his entire body felt weak and listless.  The חסיד went to the doctor, who examined him and said the only cure was to resume drinking.   The חסיד refused and said he wouldn’t violate the decree of his רבי even if his life were in danger.  The doctor insisted, however, noting that פיקוח נפש דוחה הכל, even the גזירה of the רבי.  “If you don’t follow my orders and drink,” the doctor said, “I’ll have two men hold you down and a third will force the wine down your throat.”  Hearing this, the חסיד said: “In that case, doctor, since you’re forcing me to drink, perhaps you could have one man hold me down and have two pour the wine?”

05/10/2021