Napping on Purim so that we can’t tell the difference

Rava said, “A person has the obligation ‘libsumei b’puria’ (until he does not know the difference between ‘cursed is Haman’ and ‘blessed is Mordechai’).” – Talmud Megilla 7b

The Talmudic passage is well known among observant Jews and has even been made into several songs. Many take it to understand that Rava is saying a person has an obligation to get drunk on Purim until he can not distinguish between which is better – cursing Haman and bringing about his downfall, or blessing Mordechai and bringing about his promotion.

Of course, one could argue that there is no difference. Were we to conduct a straw poll, I would imagine that there would be a fairly even split over which is better, which would lend itself to mean that there is no difference to be found. Both are equally good.

But the real question is, what does “libsumei b’puria” mean?

Most of the commentaries on the Tur and on the Shulchan Arukh talk about the depravity and anti-Torah behavior that comes from drunkenness. The tale that is told in the Talmud, about Rabba getting drunk on Purim and killing Rabbi Zeira, many argue, is the antithesis of Rava’s statement, which goes to show what kind of horrific behavior can come from becoming drunk. Perhaps in telling the tale, the Talmud is suggesting that drinking on Purim is very, very bad.

We are all well aware of what people under the influence of alcohol can do, even unintentionally. When it is younger people who are less familiar with alcohol, control, and understanding limits, the results are at a minimum a desecration of G-d’s name (chillul Hashem), and can at worst lead to hospitalization and even death.

The Ramban refers to getting drunk as being a “Naval Birshut Hatorah,” being disgusting with the Torah’s approval. In other words, as the Torah doesn’t forbid the consumption of wine, drinking wine is not against the Torah. However, just because the Torah allows consuming wine does not mean the Torah condones the resulting behavior that comes from drunkenness. This, Ramban argues, is absolutely against the Torah.

If getting drunk is forbidden (as Maimonides, the Tur, Beit Yosef, etc. all say it is), then how could the Talmud say it is an obligation on Purim to get drunk?