Welcome to the Daily Holy Story. Because he was so smart and so sharp, they would give him the nickname “the Head of Iron.” The Rabbi from Lublin, who was from the Mitnagdim, meaning against the Hasidim (Hasidic Jews), spoke up and asked the holy Rabbi from Peshischa a question. He asked him, “How come when the Hasidim gather together, they pick up a cup of Arak (anise-flavored liquor) and say L’chaim, and they say that by doing that, they come to a strong bond, whereas us, Mitnagdim, we have the custom to bond with each other? That means that wine brings bonds and marriage. Is to bring bond and closeness.”
The Admor, Hasidic Admor, Rabbi Yechiel Meir mi-Gostynin, based on the words of Chazal (the Sages), that our way is better. However, regarding Divrei Torah (words of Torah), drinking brings the hearts together, and have a wonderful, wonderful day. Tell them Chiddushei Torah (Torah insights) and stories about the Tzaddikim (righteous people), and tremendous happiness together. Together with a goyim (non-Jews), from the wine of a goyim. Who went against Hashem? To one another.
He would sit together with his Hasidim and drink Arak to be happy with the day of Rosh Chodesh (new month), speaking words of Torah with each other. And through that, come to marry their daughters. “So we see from this,” said the Rabbi from Peshischa.
One time on Rosh Chodesh Nisan, Rabbi Yechiel told his Hasidim. The Rabbi from Peshischa looked at him and said, “And say L’chaim to the goyim,” and he threw away the bad things of Elisha Acher, taking only his good part. Had a custom that on every Rosh Chodesh, after the prayers in the morning and the evening. I will bring you a proof from our Talmud. We find that Chazal say, especially if the intention by drinking. He was a Hasidic Rabbi, because Chazal say that they decreed one should not drink wine. And they answered that it was because he took the inside. However, regarding words of Torah, the Gaon (great sage) Rabbi Yisrael HaLevi Horowitz. Because of their daughters. We see these wonderful words, and do not come to bond like Rabbi Meir did.
I’m going to tell you a story that happened with the holy Jew from Peshischa. So that the Jew will not sit down with the goyim, and he threw out the shell of Elisha Acher. A person could learn together with another person. One time when he was in Lublin, he was invited to a Berit Milah (covenant of circumcision) with the Av Beit Din (head of the rabbinical court) of Lublin, Rabbi Meir. How could he possibly learn from his Rabbi Elisha Acher, that he took the good things by throwing out the bad part of Elisha Acher...