The Bitter Taste of Sin

Rav Chuna Halberstam of Kolshitz once related that on Hoshana Rabbah the Sanzer Rav used to tell the following parable, which he had received from his Rebbe, the holy Ropshitzer.

There was once a priest who often rebuked his parishioners and warned them against drinking vodka and other strong liquor. One day, passing through the marketplace, he saw one of his parishioners lying on the sidewalk in a drunken stupor. When the man’s head had cleared, he came to the priest to await punishment for his public disgrace.

The priest rebuked him to his face. “I am sorry,” said the parishioner, “but nothing can make me give up my drinking. I am hooked on it, and that is that.”

Hearing this, the priest asked one of his attendants to bring him some brandy so that he could taste it himself. “I must see why this drink is so addictive,” he thought. “It must be so delicious and tempting that he cannot give it up.” The attendant brought a glass of strong brandy. The priest took a sip and immediately spat it out, wrinkling his nose and coughing and gagging violently.

“This is revolting,” he declared. “How can you drink such a strong, bitter liquid?” Then he waved his hand. “You can go. You need no punishment at all. Drinking such horrible stuff is punishment enough.”

When the Sanzer Rav finished the story, he explained the parable. People sin because they think of the pleasure and enjoyment they will have. But anyone who had never tasted sin would taste in it the bitter and vile poison that it truly is. With this we can plead on behalf of Klal Yisroel and say: Ribbono Shel Olam, there is no need to punish the Yidden further for their sins. The bitter taste of sin is itself punishment enough.