Join us for a short exploration of the Jewish attitude towards the (abundant) physical pleasures of this BEAUTIFUL world...including the lovely fruit of the vine, in fermented form.(Based partly on this week's Torah portin, Nasso, second in the Book of Bamidbar.) And the simple answer is, "Yes, it absolutely can!" Physical pleasures in general are a great source of vitality in life (obvioulsy) but also very much part of the Jewish concept of holiness (perhaps not so obviously). IF we keep them in perspective, and use them wisely as part of a life of larger meaning and purpose. "Moderation" is not the most enticing, or fully accurate, way of describing the Jewish view of how to relate to the physical pleasures of life --though it is certainly not wrong, and very good as a general (if bland) description. The better term, however, is "ELEVATION!"