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I will repeat one matter that is constantly raised in discussions that occur quite often. The medical dangers of smoking are minimized, either by citing various conspiracy theories about the government that wants tobacco legal and taxed, or by halachic minimizers who claim that the scientific data on the dangers is artificially inflated. There are probably others that simply don’t care, and proceed to follow their drives. For these, a wake up call that addresses the issues of death and dying, chronic illness, widows, orphans, etc. can become a tragic necessity.

For several years, I had wondered why Rabbonim who would readily ban various other things were resistant to making smoking a recognized issur. The halachic support for this is well documented, and the names of those supporting the halachic issur are well known to all. Let me list some of them: Rav Chaim Palagi ZT”L, Rav Ovadia Yosef shlit”a, Rav Benzion Abba-Shaul, Rav Chaim Pinchos Sheinberg shlit”a, Rav Eliezer Waldenberg ZT”L, Rav Moshe Stern (Debreziner Rav) ZT”L, Rav Avrohom Yaakov Zilesnik, Rav Shlomo Wolbe ZT”L, Rav Aharon Leib Shteinman shlit”a, Rav Moshe Shmuel Shapiro ZT”L, Rav Michel Yehuda Lefkowitz shlit”a, Rav Shmuel Wosner shlit”a, Rav Nissim Karelitz shlit”a, Rav Boruch Dov Povarsky shlit”a, Rav Matisyahu Salomon shlit”a, Rav Yitzchok Zilverstein shlit”a, Chofetz Chaim ZT”L, Chazon Ish ZT”L, Rav Schach ZT”L, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach ZT”L, Rav Shlomo Halberstam (Bobover Rebbe) ZT”L. This is a partial list. (I hope I was accurate with those blessed for arichus yomim and those whose memories are beacons for our present and future.)

I raised this question with several Rabbonim when I had such opportunity. I did not find anyone disagreeing with the issur. All felt it was unnecessary to state, would not be obeyed, or were unwilling to take a stand (out of anivus – they felt that someone greater than them should make the statement). Yet, my observation is that there are more smokers now than there were just a few short years ago. In most places where I daven, there are cigarette butts paving the areas outside of the shuls. Every Yom Tov, I catch people taking their cigarettes to the candles in the shul to light up. I have yet to meet a Rav who will ask a smoker to stop or to find elsewhere to daven. There is complacency about this issue. It is not less significant than bugs in the water (chamira sakanta mei’issurah).

Complicating this is that the message that it is acceptable to smoke actually supports the defenses and denial of those who choose to abuse drugs and alcohol. In certain instances, the medical dangers of tobacco are more severe than the drugs. If we turn a blind eye and hold our noses to smoking, we may be tacitly okaying drugs! At the very least, it makes our messages against drugs appear inconsistent and without seriousness.

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I can point the finger of blame at Rabbonim who set an inappropriate example by lighting up. It is hard to believe, however, that the Rabbinate can be held accountable when pple through their own bechira choose to ignore what is not only good sense but is also clearly Derech HaTorah. At some point, we need to accept a level of personal responsibility for our choices and behaviors.

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I once heard an insightful vort delivered during an aseres yemei teshuva drasha which, I think,offers insight into the apparent contradiction between the Jewish concept of bechira vs. a compulsion driven by a natural disorder.

Among the "al chets" for which we attempt teshuva is "al chet shechatanu lefanecha beh'ones ube'ratzon." The obvious question emerges: Chataim committed purposely, 'be'ratzon,' surely require teshuvah, but how can an ahnus be held accountable? By definition, "ahnus" implies a lack of choice.

The explanation offered is that at times we put ourselves into a situation that limits us in certain ways and, in a sense, transforms us into ahnusim in the context of that sitation--a direct result of our own bechira.

By choosing to enter a bar, the alcoholic makes himself an ahnus as he is biologically incapable of resisting the temptation to drink. By deciding to enter a casino, the addictive gambler also actively decides to relinquish his power of choice. From another angle (though not a perfect analogy), we may decide to live in a particular neighborhood where certain pressures, expectations, and social norms limit and define our choices in a very narrow way. And, by inhaling that very first puff, the smoker, too, claims that very same indisputable responsibility for his addiction!

In all these scenarios, our responsibility lies in our own bechira--choices which inevitably set up a dynamic of "ohnes" and bind us into a sitation of helplessness. For these decisions we must seek mechila and do teshuvah. I think this concept speaks volumes about the power Hashem gave us to shape our own lives, and the enormous achrayus this gift entails.

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As a further reading shows, smoking is obviously Assur. However, those who refuse to quit have a "weak" excuse: their favorite Gadol has not issued a Psak.

I am very disturbed by the "second-hand" effects of smoking. Those who smoke endanger the lives of other -- innocent -- people in their vicinity. As this may not be obvious to all, a statement from the Gedolim Assuring any Shul, banquet hall, or other public facility that tolerates smoking is very appropriate. Perhaps the Gedolim would be willing to state that by smoking and endangering others, one is guilty of "Lo Sirtzach" Rachmana Litzlan!

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I believe that many people are addicted smokers because they started smoking when they were bochurim assuming they'll just smoke a few cigarettes now and then. Sooner or later, they become addicted.

I think the key is to educate bochurim BEFORE they take the first cigarette. We could do this by introducing a campaign into our yeshivos aimed primarily at 11-13 year olds. We could show them material explaining the long term health hazard and the fact that smoking a little often leads to addiction.

We could even produce a video showing graphic scenes of people suffering from emphysema and lung cancer as a result of smoking, and perhaps have some of these individuals explain how they started, e.g. I never thought I would become a smoker etc.

I think this would have a much more powerful impact than simply saying that our Gedolim assur it.

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In terms of the halocho, it may not be such a black-and-white issue as people are suggesting. My understanding is that R. Moshe Feinstien, z'tl, felt he could not pasken that it is ossur, as much as he disapproved of the practice.

I spoke with someone who actually called R. Moshe when he was a bochur (probably about 30 years ago) and asked him. R' Moshe tried to discourage him from smoking, but when he was pressed for a halachic reply, he said "I can't tell you that it is ossur".

My understanding is that the rationale behind R. Moshe's reluctance to pasken that smoking is ossur is based on the concept of "dosh bei rabim". Something which may be statistically or objectively dangerous may not be ossur if it is commonplace in society.

It is quite possible that two things have changed since R. Moshe's time:

1) The practice is not so widely accepted in society. At least in the U.S., smoking in public places is banned almost everywhere.

2) Although it was well known thirty years ago that smoking is dangerous, they did not have the terrifying body of data we now have linking smoking to hundreds of serious medical conditions.

It seems to me that there are two possible approaches:

1) The gedolim could decide that in the context of society today, that smoking is, in fact, a violation of the Torah prohibition of shmiras nefesh.

2) They could issue a ban on smoking not based on the mitzva of shmiras nefesh, but just because of the horrible damage it wreaks on our society.

I think the Gedolim would only choose the first option if they sincerely felt that it was true. (They might very well come to that conclusion). Halacha is too sacred to be "adapted" as a tool for societal reform.

In terms of the second option, I think the Gedolim would seriously consider the practical effects of such a gezera. Would it be heeded? Would a shul really refuse to give an aliya to one of its supporters?

Perhaps a better approach would be education. I think that the many shmiras haloshon programs in schools and communities have really had an effect on our society.

Yeshivas have to somehow communicate to the talmidim that smoking is about as "cool" as spitting in the street.

For people who are already smokers, perhaps more support groups geared to our community would encourage them to stop. Rabbonim could publicly and privately encourage people to take advantage of them.

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Why is there overwhelming support to stop women from wearing red or wearing a skirt that reaches the middle of the knee, but so little support for addiction issues?What do you think teenage girls are thinking? Perhaps that wearing the color red is much worse than taking drugs, smoking, or drinking excessively???? Or that important Jewish educators care more about a "stupid color" than my health or the health of my brother. More so than ever in the past forty years Jewish life is not making any sense.

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I am VERY reluctant to do this as we never gave him any cigarettes and he knows we are very much against it. I'm not even sure he is addicted to smoking (although it might be a given if he admits drug addiction?). They advised us to try to win the war and not the battle over cigarette smoking. Somehow it doesn't sound right to me. Why can't they address all his issues at the same time? Why should I be happy if he ''only '' smokes cigarettes and let's say gets lung cancer? What should we do?

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Its dean, Rabbi Yaakov Weiner shlita has lectured against cigarette smoking, around the world. I contributed an invited lead article in the health issue of the November 2008 JEWISH OBSERVER.

Yet, smoking persists.

Why?

Because nicotine is more addictive than heroin, as I showed in an invited lecture at the 2007 national convention of Agudath Israel of America.

We simply have to find every way to keep our loved ones away from such a highly addictive substance, especially when they are teens.

We need to keep them away from peers who smoke, who do drugs, who are bad influences. [Once a teen has begun to use drugs after starting with alcohol, cigarettes, marijuana, or another gateway substance, professionals may advise letting the smoking continue temporarily while battling the drug addiction.]

We do not need a new ruling from our Gedolim to do our parenting or counseling. We do not need a new ruling from our Gedolim to prepare a curriculum emphasizing the dangers of smoking, alcohol, drugs, etc. We know there are Gedolim who have banned cigarettes, and others who are reluctant for various reasons--but do everything they can to discourage cigarette smoking (as did Rav Moshe Feinstein, ztl).

We need to take ownership of our children's curriculum, and see to it that each and every Jewish school educates our children on dangers such as smoking.

We need not to always behind the 'blame the Gedolim' game. We need to blame ourselves, collectively, for our relative inaction. How many times have you told someone it is dangerous to smoke? Studies show that when a doctor tells 10 patients to stop smoking for health reasons, at least 1 will stop just from that admonition! How many times have we implored someone to stop smoking, or sat down with our children, time and time again, to counsel them on the dangers of alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs?

We do not need more rulings on this from our spiritual leaders. We need common sense. We need to take back parenting from the schools.

We are the parents. We know what is right and wrong, and our kids look to us for guidance.

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I would speak to the center and ask them to address your concerns. Has your child asked you to buy him cigarettes, is he asking others to give him a smoke?

My understanding is that when a parent supplies cigarettes to a child who is already smoking - the child becomes less dependent on peers , or stealing to find money and there is relationship building when parents are helping a kid to meet his needs.

When we sin, the Tomer Devorah says that Hashem still gives us life so we can in effect carry on sinning. Hashem does not cease life so we can't sin against Him any longer.

In any case he may not be holding at a place where he can think of giving up smoking. Education is a process and dealing with addiction means change from within and improved relationships.

Maybe you could then try some CPS - collaborative problem solving with him about the cigarette issue

1. empathy- reassurance stage - you are not trying to force him not to smoke just helping him put his concerns on the table - why he needs to smoke , what are his concerns

2. put your concerns on the table

3. try to find a mutually satisfying solution which addresses both concerns - could be, him putting a limit on the how many he smokes per day , reducing etc. When smoking is no longer a source of conflict between you and your child , he will not feel the need to exercise counter will and be more open to hearing you.

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As inspiration for those who are already smoking: my mother quit after 10 years of constant smoking. She said a few years later in a medical exam the physician said she didn't show any signs of having smoked. So don't say you've already done yourself in - you haven't!

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I didn't mind my son smoking then, it would be too much to take away from him at once. He went to the Chabad RTC in LA, CA for a 6 month program and learned to live w/o drugs. He was given therapy and life skills how to face life w/o the drugs. it is a life time job.

He works very hard on himself constantly. He is more than 2 yrs clean B"H and he has given up smoking this year.

If u need chizuk, I'll give u my email address. Hatzlacha

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However, it is well known that cigarettes are a gateway drug. Teens that smoke are far more likely to use drugs than teens that don't. And how horrific it is that a beautiful Jewish neshama should be exposed to the emotional horror of drugs and the even worse emotional horror of the drug scene.

How many people have recovered from it, and nevertheless suffered terribly from the memory of what they did? And how many people who otherwise would not have been pulled in, were nevertheless pushed into that scene because of the large number of tormented friends that engage in it. It is well known how powerful peer pressure is.

Would to G-d, that this evil illness be eradicated from our society.

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About the other kids - you can say that you are following professional advice , you can put their concerns on the table - smoking is a solution which address concerns , once we drill down to a concern/s we can usually find alternate solutions which address these concerns. The beauty of CPS is that it is not about negotiation or duelling of solutions , the discussion is about concerns. Also kids do understand that fair does not mean equal , it means that indivdual needs and concerns are being heard and addressed

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1)Current smokers Confess to all who see you light up that this was an error and you wish you had never started.

2)Parents When you see a smoker say "Oy! Nebech" to kids >8 years old. So when he is later offered a cigarette on Purim etc he will have an instinctive feeling of not wanting to be a "nebech."

3)Shidduchim Do not let our girls marry boys who smoke! Personal health costs are higher,life insurance premiums are higher, kids are sicker, etc. not to mention the rapidly rising cost of the cigarettes, themselves.

BTW, the negative health consequences of tobacco were first published in the medical literature in the 1700s!