Mar 25, 2026 · 34 min · 11 segments
Wine is central to Jewish ritual, but what if drinking isn’t safe for you? A listener in recovery dreads what used to be his favorite holiday, Passover. He writes that he dreads all the wine talk and…
Shira StutmanHost
Sue ReinholdGuest
Hanna RosinHostNailah BoodooHost
We weren't Orthodox, didn't keep kosher, but we celebrated all the holidays, including the minor ones.
In general, my memories of Jewish holidays are positive, except for one complication, the wine.
There was the wine cup at the wedding and then Purim, where adults opened lots of bottles.
I finally feel like I'm getting back on steady feet, which is great, except that I dread Jewish holidays.
I dread all the moments where we have to talk about the wine, and I dread having to explain why I am not drinking.
How do I handle this? What do I say to people? The truth is, I feel like not going to a Seder and sitting this one out.
This is very complicated and brings up so many things on both sides, like the side of why is wine important and the side of what are you supposed to do? Can you participate, be a fully participating Jew and not partake? And we're so happy to have help answering this week's question.
She runs Torah of Recovery, a weekly virtual support group for people in recovery from substance addiction.
We weren't Orthodox, didn't keep kosher, but we celebrated all the holidays, including the minor ones.
In general, my memories of Jewish holidays are positive, except for one complication, the wine.
There was the wine cup at the wedding and then Purim, where adults opened lots of bottles.
I finally feel like I'm getting back on steady feet, which is great, except that I dread Jewish holidays.
I dread all the moments where we have to talk about the wine, and I dread having to explain why I am not drinking.
How do I handle this? What do I say to people? The truth is, I feel like not going to a Seder and sitting this one out.
This is very complicated and brings up so many things on both sides, like the side of why is wine important and the side of what are you supposed to do? Can you participate, be a fully participating Jew and not partake? And we're so happy to have help answering this week's question.
She runs Torah of Recovery, a weekly virtual support group for people in recovery from substance addiction.
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