Drinking and Purim 

Talmud Megilah 7b: Rava said, a person is obligated to “besumi” on Purim until he doesn’t know the difference between “blessed is Mordechai” and “cursed is Haman.” Rabbah and Rabbi Zera made Purim together, they became “ivsum”. Rabbah arose and slaughtered Rabbi Zera. He begged mercy and revived him. Next year he said, “Let the Master come and we’ll make Purim meal together.” He said to him, “not every single year does a miracle happen.” 

Rashi: “Besumi” to get drunk

Tosaphot: “Blessed is Mordechai” and “cursed is Haman.” In the JT: Cursed is Zeresh, Blessed is Esther, cursed all the wicked, blessed be all the Jews.

Korban Netanel: “Besumi” = feel good. Leravot= to get drunk. Until but not including.

Rif: Quotes Rava as is.

Rambam. (In the context of the meal) and he drinks wine and he sleeps… the main thing is to make the poor happy. Aruch Hashulchan: Rambam rejects Rava.

Raavya (Ger.) Quoted by Mordechai, Hag. Maim. This is all for a mitzva, it does not prevent the mitzva from occurring.

Kol Bo and Orchot Hayim (Prov.): “Bisumi” not drunk, for drunkenness is totally forbidden. There is no sin as great as this, for it causes immorality and killing and many sins.. only that he should drink a little more than usual, so that he will rejoice more, and to help the poor be happy…

Rabbeinu Yerucham (Prov.) Agudah (Ger. Later): Some say he has to know to calculate the value of the two expressions which are the same. (502)

Meiri (Prov.): We are not commanded to get drunk to demean ourselves.. rather to come from the joy to the love of G-d. From the story of Rabbi Zera the law of Rava was rejected. Rava meant that you can’t know exactly what you say. He didn’t slaughter (shochet) but wiped him out (sochet).. (do you still have to drink?)

Ran: Until you don’t know what is being said.

Rabenu Ephraim in Maor and Ran:  Rava is rejected and it is not right to do it that way.

Tur, Shulchan Aruch: Quotes Rava as is.

Ramah: Quotes Kol Bo and Rambam, drink more than usual and go to sleep.

Mishnah Berurah: mentions Meiri and warns not to miss benching or davening.

Aruch Hashulchan: some say there is a longer song.

Levush: you don’t know the what is more important  between the rise of Mordechai and the fall of Haman. 

How were all the words of Rava reread?

A man is obligated to “besumi” on Purim until he doesn’t know the difference between ‘cursed is Haman,’ and ‘blessed is Mordechai’