Question:
I heard the Rav say in a derashah that only when one has already revealed his neshamah throughout the course of the year is it proper for him to become intoxicated on Purim. If not, then his intoxication is not in the category of “Wine enters and secrets come out” because such a person has not yet revealed the “secret” [the soul] beforehand. The Rav explained much about the depth of drinking wine on Purim, from different angles. This would seem to imply that all of one’s growth through intoxication on Purim can only come through wine specifically, as opposed to other beverages [i.e. whiskey, schnapps, vodka, beer], for only wine reveals the secret. Therefore, how are we to understand the different views in the Poskim regarding if one fulfills intoxication on Purim through wine specifically or even through other alcoholic beverages?
Answer:
Everything has a root, as well as branches, to it. The “root” of drinking on Purim, which is “When wine enters, the secret comes out” implies that it is wine specifically which reveals the secret. However, in the “branches” of this matter, the spiritual effect of the wine on Purim also extends to other intoxicating beverages. However [any intoxicating beverages other than wine] would not have the gain of the spiritual illumination of the “root”, for it would only be on the level of “branch”.
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