YWN Coffee Room

YWN Coffee Room » Decaffeinated Coffee

1. yekke2
   Member

   Is there anybody who can actually put an argument together stating why anybody would start smoking?

   --> Nobody likes the first cigarette. 'You acquire a taste' - if you don't like it then why do you want to acquire a taste?

   --> Health: It HAS been proven medically that smoking causes cancer (First owner of MALBORO died of lung cancer, although that is no proof - funny coincidence). Just visit a cancer ward on a free day and see what can happen for yourself.

   --> Hygiene: The smell of nicotine (or whatever the revolting smell of a smoker is) is disgusting. It makes your beard/teeth yellow... and is also a disgusting habit!

   --> Finance: An average smoker (non adicted, although that is not so average anymore) smokes two boxes a week? If a box costs you $6, that means $624 yearly. And once you get into it, one can go through a box a day - £2190 yearly!!!

   --> Stress: Nobody feels the need for a cigarette when stressed except for somebody addicted. smoking does not alleviate stress, it causes it for when you don't have it. Like any drug, it eats away at you while making you feel more and more of a pull towards it.

   --> Marriage: Smoking is definitely not good for Shalom Bayis - not for finding a spouse, not for being married while smoking. It is a filthy habit that does not improve the character one bit.

   SO WHY ON EARTH WOULD SOMEBODY START SMOKING? ARE THEY SO ATTENTION DEPRIVED THEY NEED TO SMOKE???

   Posted 11 months ago #

2. Toi
   beware the cleats

   cuz its cool.

   Posted 11 months ago #

3. lakewhut
   Member

   Smoking is cool. Most bochurim stop at a certain point. If that's the only bad thing he does then it's fine. Yea it's unhealthy, but there are more obese Jews than smokers. It's a social thing. If your friends in yeshiva, camp, etc smoke then chances are you will. If not then you probably won't because smoking is a social activity and most people don't start smoking by themselves. I don't believe one should smoke, but its possible to control it. Most people don't enjoy every cigarette they smoke. Once in a while is enjoyable. The taste of rich tobacco on a brown topped cigarette is a good taste. Weed is slowly creeping into our yeshivas and I don't think many rabbis know how to deal with the situation or realize it before it becomes more prevalent. That is a problem as well. Many people who grow up in sheltered homes where kids aren't exposed them to many possible outlets can go on to smoking.

   Posted 11 months ago #

4. Csar
   Joseph

   Anyone have a light?

   Posted 11 months ago #

5. yytz
   Member

   It's not OK to start smoking with the idea you will quit. Tobacco is so addictive that a large percentage of those who start will never stop. Many, many prominent rabbinical authorities have ruled it's absolutely forbidden. Prominent rabbis in Israel have ruled that a smoker can't be a kosher witness, or be a shochet, mohel or sofer. If it's "cool" -- then where there is no man, be a man, and run away from these "cool" people.

   Marijuana is extremely harmful. Solid evidence links it to increased risk of all kinds of mental illnesses, even schitzophrenia. Any pot smoker will tell you it makes them "paranoid" -- irrationally anxious -- sometimes. It can even lead to longterm problems with panic attacks. A very dangerous drug, much worse than people think.

   Posted 11 months ago #

6. yekke2
   Member

   "Yea it's unhealthy, but there are more obese Jews than smokers."
   LAKEWHUT - we are talking about lives, not obesity.

   And for those who believe they are addicted - see Sefer VeHarev Na by R' Yitzchok Zilbertein Shlit"a - he brings a story about his father-in-law R' Elyashiv Shlit"a: a doctor had to perform an operation on a patient on Shabbos. He asked R' Elyashiv if he could smoke before the operation and it will make the operation go better. R' Elyashiv replied surprisingly by not saying that it is Ossur all year round, but still said it is ossur on shabbos, stating there is no such thing as an addiction (See Parshas Behaloscho)

   Posted 11 months ago #

7. BTGuy
   Member

   Why would they start?

   Ignorance, lack of self-control, peer pressure; a whole host of reasons unbecoming of a person with any substance or intelligence.

   Posted 11 months ago #

8. The little I know
   Member

   I am offended by the title of this post that suggests that smoking is muttar, just wondering why. It is NOT. A thread in the CR a few months ago is worth revisting, so I will not repeat the huge list of poskim that have spoken about the clear issur. I will entertain any arguments that anyone wants to advance here, but I accept the psak of nearly all gedolei hador - smoking is assur.

   Posted 11 months ago #

9. working harder
   Member

   First off i am in no way going to argue that smoking is healthy.

   HOWEVER, although smoking may not scientifically reduce stress, mentally it does.

   Whenever a smoker is stressed out, they go outside for a smoke and the cig removes them from their surroundings. It gives them a chance to mentally relax and rethink things. Its a distraction from reality which so many of us could benefit from.

   Are there other things that can help you relax mentally for a few minutes? yes like breathing deep breaths of fresh air. but that's boring.

   Is it unhealthy? yes. yet there are MANY things unhealthy that we do. Tabacoo use may be on the list of top causes of death in America but it is not number 1. Number one is obesity and all the health aliments that come with it.

   HOW could it POSSIBLY be muttar to let people eat red meat and fatty meats that have been PROVEN to cause heart attacks?

   Because, we do unhealthy things to help us get by and that's life.

   Posted 11 months ago #

10. gavra_at_work
    ^caution

    The Penei Yehoshua says that smoking is healthy.

    Who are we to argue with the Gedolei Achronim? The only answer I have seen is "Nishtane HaTeva", and now it is harmful. Studies are not a Rayah, perhaps it is only harmful to those who have 31 (or 33) teeth, not 32.

    (Poe)

    Posted 11 months ago #

11. Health
    Member

    Yekke - "SMOKING - why should it be MUTTAR?"

    Until they make an Asifa saying it's Ossur, then it's Muttar!

    And of course, the kids shouldn't be allowed in school because they think that smoking is Muttar because they see it at home and Ch'vs they can be Muspah others.
    And a filter is only good if it filters out all the dangerous stuff, not just some of it, not like the filters they have nowadays.

    Posted 11 months ago #

12. kfb
    Member

    I have downstairs neighbors who smoke in front of my building and I have to wait until she's done smoking to bring my son inside. It's disgusting! We hav to move because of it. The city should have a huge bubble every couple of blocks and that's where smokers will smoke! They'll have to breathe in their own pollution which they give to the world

    Posted 11 months ago #

13. Health
    Member

    working harder -"Is it unhealthy? yes. yet there are MANY things unhealthy that we do. Tabacoo use may be on the list of top causes of death in America but it is not number 1. Number one is obesity and all the health aliments that come with it."

    This is a falsehood. I've posted this before here in the CR:
    From the CDC -"Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death."
    Smoking is #1.

    "HOW could it POSSIBLY be muttar to let people eat red meat and fatty meats that have been PROVEN to cause heart attacks?"

    The eating of meat in of itself is Not dangerous, but it's excessive eating that's dangerous. Should a person overeat? No, of course not.
    And a lot of foods, in excess, is Not good for your health.
    I'd even say smoking 20 - 40 cigarettes a Year is Not dangerous.

    Posted 11 months ago #

14. oomis
    Member

    It's not muttar. It will kill the smoker, and it can potentially kill others around the smoker.

    Leave the obese to their own devices. At least their problem does not pollute the air the rest of us have to breathe.

    Posted 11 months ago #

15. lakewhut
    Member

    Yekke2, yekkes are known to be intelligent people. I think you would know that obesity results in diabetes, heart attacks, strokes, etc. Maybe bloomberg is right. Maybe some Jews need that kind of government intervention

    Posted 11 months ago #

16. bygirl93
    Not old enough to have graduated BY in 1993

    why is it cool to kill yourself??????? its not ok- evn if that is the only bad thing he does-
    I don't know about other girls- but most girls i know would not even think about going out with a guy that smokes- it's like going in knowing that his health will deteriorate... and i'm not even going into lung cancer and the statistics and dieing prematurely...
    I don't no if its assur but now that the dangers are known its probably not straight out mutar-
    lakewhut- obesity affects themselves- smoking affects the world around them! they are polluting the air and causing second hand smoke to the people near and dear to them and sometimes second hand smoke can be even more damaging then actually smoking

    Posted 11 months ago #

17. 147
    -105

    People smoke, in order to indulge their Yetzer hoRo to violate the Chiyuv of "v'Nishmartem Me'od l'Nafshoseichem" with each & every puff they smoke.

    This is a lot of opportunities to be in violation of an Assei dOrraisso.

    Posted 11 months ago #

18. TheMusicMan
    Epigraph: Director of the Redundancy Department of Redundancy

    I once saw an anti-smoking campaign ad which showed a grinning sheikh tossing the cigarettes with one hand and pointing a gun at his own head with the other. The caption:

    Use this! It's faster!

    Posted 11 months ago #

19. frumnotyeshivish
    as distinct from topknot yeshivish

    The assumption the OP started with is flawed. EVERYTHING is muttar, unless G-d says otherwise. Therefore, a logical (albeit wrong) way to frame the topic is: Smoking is assur because of xyz, or stupid because of xyz. The assumptions that people leap to, especially regarding highly enjoyable acts that they clearly dislike, shouldn't be confused with Halachah.

    Posted 11 months ago #

20. yekke2
    Member

    working harder: "HOWEVER, although smoking may not scientifically reduce stress, mentally it does."

    - Only for somebody who is already addicted. Somebody stressed out will not feel a stress relief from his first cigarette. You answered yourself "Whenever a smoker is stressed out, they go outside for a smoke and the cig removes them from their surroundings." A smoker. Not a normal person.

    I also apologize - my arguments are nothing to do with muttar or assur, but in common sense. I tried to change the title, but i cannot figure out how to. Mods - if you can change the title to "Smoking: Why would anybody do it?"

    I also want to make clear - the question is not for reasons why people do it, (e.g. peer pressure...) but rather logical reason.

    In this weeks Hamodia, in the Health report, there was an article about deaths as a result of tobacco - it is responsible for 21% of deaths!!! Over 50 Million in the past 10 years!!!

    Posted 11 months ago #

21. yekke2
    Member

    gavra_at_work - "Who are we to argue with the Gedolei Achronim" - i haven't got a list in front of me, but dozens of rabbonim worldwide have pronounced it Assur, and who are you to argue with the Gedolei Hador? How they argue with the Penei Yehoshua is not the point. YOU have to listen to the Gedolei Hador, who have paskened it Assur (at least to START smoking). The same reason you must listen to the Pnei Yehoshua you must listen to R' Elyashiv Shlit"a, R' Chaim Kanievsky Shlit"a and R' A Y L Steinman Shlit"a. They all said it is assur, with numerous other gedolim!!!

    "The_little_i_know" - can you post me a link to that thread? Thanks!!!

    Posted 11 months ago #

22. 147
    -105

    The thread is Deuteronomy Chapter 4, verse 15.

    By the way, this verse is being read in my Synagogue, in another 48 days, so you are welcome to stop by, to hear this verse, and to become inspired by its timely message & application.

    Posted 11 months ago #

23. lakewhut
    Member

    bygirl doesn't understand anything about guys. Also, If a girl finds a rich guy or a kolel husband from lakewood of her dreams then she'll most likely convince him to quit. If a guy is physically attracted to a girl he'll do many things to marry her

    Posted 11 months ago #

24. Health
    Member

    lakewhut - Why would a girl even go out with a smoker?
    I know - I wouldn't - if I was a girl.

    Posted 11 months ago #

25. frumnotyeshivish
    as distinct from topknot yeshivish

    Deaths as a result of smoking, or smoking-related diseases? Heart disease, the majority of deaths resulting therefrom having nothing to do with smoking, is still characterized as a "smoking-related disease".

    Posted 11 months ago #

26. lakewhut
    Member

    money, looks, the kollel guy of her dreams, etc.

    Posted 11 months ago #

27. Ma nishtana
    Member

    Why do people where neckties or black hats? It's called style!

    Show me one smoker who actually decided to become a smoker! The decisions usually is about "should I smoke THIS cigarette NOW?".

    Furthermore there's a widespread illusion that smokers get pleasure from smoking. Most people are unaware that the illusory pleasure is actually the reversal of nicotine's withdrawal symptoms. Smokers can only experience a non-smoker's normal state of mind with a certain level of nicotine in his blood.

    Posted 11 months ago #

28. zvei dinim
    Member

    "The Penei Yehoshua says that smoking is healthy. Who are we to argue with the Gedolei Achronim?"

    The Pnei Yehosuah (Shabbos לט:) says
    נראה דעישון הטובא"ק נמי הוי לבריאת הגוף

    1) Rav Shlomo Zalman (שולחן שלמה, ערכי רפואה ח"ב, ע' ר"כ) says that we follow the doctors of our times over previous generation's doctors such as the Rambam.

    2) The P'nei Yehoshua only says נראה.

    3) The Pnei Yehoshua is talking about the sugyah of אוכל נפש on יום טוב, where the criteria relevant has to do with the REASON the person is doing it and not the actual RESULT.

    This is why the Pnei Yehoshua says נראה דעישון הטובא"ק נמי הוי לבריאת הגוף which has nothing to do with the actual effect.

    4) Did you ever here of הלכה כבתראי? Every single one of today's Gedolei Haposkim, without fail, assume the veracity of the dangers of smoking if you read in their seforim!

    Posted 11 months ago #

29. Health
    Member

    zvei dinim - Well said!

    Posted 11 months ago #

30. bygirl93
    Not old enough to have graduated BY in 1993

    lakwhut- quitting is easier said then done for most people. and please explain what i don't get about guys? peer pressure is peer pressure- that's what social smoking is- people expect girl's not to succumb to peer pressure on various counts- but boys get a free pass because it's cool? let me ask you a very common question- if all your friends were jumping off a bridge would you?? each person has their own common sense.- would you jump if it was the cool thing to do and the damage will be minimal, but as you get older the damage will become more visible?...... please tell me- what don't I get? that guys don't think before they act? because in front of me there is a pretty clear line between the black and white right now- but if you can manage to mention some possible logical and ok reasoning- i would be willing to admit that you might be partially right- but so far you have nothing!

    Posted 11 months ago #

31. Ma nishtana
    Member

    "Although smoking may not scientifically reduce stress, mentally it does; whenever a smoker is stressed out, they go outside for a smoke and the cig removes them from their surroundings."

    If smoking reduces stress mentally, then why do all studies show that smokers report higher stress levels? Why do former smokers report lower levels of stress than when they smoked?

    The answer is that nicotine is related to the brain neurotransmitter called acetyl-choline. At first smoking first overdoses the brain's nicotinic acetyl-choline receptors, manifesting as "head rush." Subsequently, those receptors are temporarily desensitized causing a low in the smoker's mood.

    If at this point the smoker takes another cigarette, his mood state will return to normal. Ironically, nicotine will be attributed only with removing the negative state it has induced.

    Over time a psychological affinity develops for the formerly repulsive sensory stimuli (taste and smell) associated with nicotine administration. This psychological affinity eventually replaces mood control as the primary reinforcer of the addiction.

    Posted 11 months ago #

32. Ma nishtana
    Member

    frumnotyeshivish said "The assumption the OP started with is flawed. EVERYTHING is muttar, unless G-d says otherwise. Therefore, a logical (albeit wrong) way to frame the topic is: Smoking is assur because of xyz, or stupid because of xyz. The assumptions that people leap to, especially regarding highly enjoyable acts that they clearly dislike, shouldn't be confused with Halachah."

    Anyone vaguely familiar with Halacha is aware of the extreme and unparalleled severity of sakanah and ending life in Jewish law. That's probably why everyone other than frumnotyeshivish wasn't bothered by his question.

    Posted 11 months ago #

33. lakewhut
    Member

    You don't understand guy chills, your knowledge is empirical. As your title suggests you are a naive person.

    Posted 11 months ago #

34. bygirl93
    Not old enough to have graduated BY in 1993

    Don't judge a poster by their screen name...... I might not understand everything but I think I understand enough of the way guys chill- more than most girls- and I'm okay with them chilling etc- but killing yourself is not chilling- period- have any other logic? i'm open to being convinced- but so far you don't have me.... and as you can see in other threads I will admit it when I am wrong......

    Posted 11 months ago #

35. Proud Hungarian
    Member

    frumnotyeshivish said "Heart disease, the majority of deaths resulting therefrom having nothing to do with smoking, is still characterized as a smoking-related disease."

    Most deaths are not because of jumps from off from the roofs. So if you (ChV"Sh) jump, it should not be characterized as a fall related kind of death. Meaning it's safe to jump off buildings, or at least not so dangerous like everybody makes it, according to what frumnotyeshivish is saying.

    I hope he meant to say another thing.

    Posted 11 months ago #

36. zvei dinim
    Member

    Guy chills or whatever other masculine emotional fantasy, it's nothing a chacham, (whut?), would be proud of.

    "Vayechkam ... Afilu Min Hashotim" but in this case I think lakewhut is using empirical knowledge. At least, don't be proud of it.

    Posted 11 months ago #

37. zvei dinim
    Member

    I posted something like this earlier, but it seems many above are unaware so I'll post it again.

    The following is what the Poskim hold about smoking:

    החפץ חיים זצוק"ל: "... הלא אמרו שאינו רשאי לחבול בעצמו אחד משום ונשמרתם לנפשותיכם ועוד דין הוא דהלא תבל ומלואה של הקב"ה ולכבודו בראנו ונותן לכל אחד בחסדו כח כפי צרכו לתורתו ולעולמו ואיך ירשה העבד לעשות לעצמו כפי רצונו הלא הוא שייך לאדונו ואם ע"י העישון נגרעו כחותיו בודאי יתבע בסוף לדין על זה דהרי עשה זאת ברצון לבו ולא באונס" (ליקוטי אמרים סי' י"ג).

    הגאון רבי אהרון קוטלר זצוק"ל: "כשלראשונה נתפרסם המידע עודות הסכנות הכרוכות בעישון שאלתי את מו"ר הגר"א קוטלר זצוק"ל אם מותר לעשן והשיב שהוא איסור דאורייתא" (מכתב הג"ר יחיאל פער שליט"א, ראש ישיבת פאר ראקאוויי).

    הגאון רבי יעקב קמנצקי זצוק"ל: "העישון אסור לכל אדם" (במחיצת רבינו, דרשה עמ' רס"ח),

    שו"ת באר משה: "אסור לבני אדם להעלות עשן סיגארעט משום ונשמרתם את נפשותיכם" (ח"ו סי' ק"ס אות ט').

    שו"ת ציץ אליעזר: "גם בחול אסור העישון" (חי"ז סי' כ"א, וע"ע שם חט"ו סי' ל"ט).

    הגאון רבי בן ציון אבא שאול זצוק"ל: "אם אין איסור ודאי בעישון מכל מקום ספיקא דאורייתא ודאי איכא" (אור לציון - חכמה ומוסר עמ' רכ"א).

    הגאון רבי שלמה זלמן אויערבאך זצוק"ל "דאם המעשן יודע שהעישון מקצר את החיים, ושקיצור חיים הוא איסור דאורייתא של מאבד עצמו לדעת, ושעל עון זה חייבים מיתה בידי שמים, אסור לו להעיד, ועדותו פסולה" (קובץ בית הלל גליון ל"ט עמ' כ"א בשם הרב מרדכי הלפרין, עורך קובץ התלתי אסיא). "מעולם לא הצטרפתי לדעת המתירים העישון גם בזמנינו" (בהסכמה לספר פאר תחת אפר, בהכחשה למה שהובא שם בשמו, הובא בשולחן שלמה ערכי רפואה ח"ב עמ' רכ"ב).

    הגאון רבי יוסף שלום אלישיב שליט"א: "שאלתי אם מותר מצד הדין לעשן סיגרי' בזמנינו שכבר יודעים בבירור שמזיק, והשיב דאסור" (שו"ת וישמע משה [תשע"א] - פסקי הגרי"ש אלישיב שליט"א, עמ' תל"ו. הספר אושר בכתב ע"י חתנו הגר"ע אויערבך הי"ו ובנו הרב אברהם אלישיב הי"ו).

    הגאון רבי משה שטרנבוך שליט"א: "קבלתי מכתבו שמבקש ממני לחתום על איסור עישון ביום טוב... גם בחול יש איסור גמור שעובר על לאוין ומסכן עצמו משום תאותו וכמ"ש, ואין להגביל האיסור ליום טוב" (תשובות והנהגות ח"ד סי' קט"ו וע"ע ח"ג סי' שנ"ד באריכות).

    הגאון רבי עובדיה יוסף שליט"א: "... הרבה מגדולי דורינו שאסרו בכל תוקף את העישון הסיגריות על פי ממצאים רפואיים שקבעו גדולי הרופאים בזמנינו, וחובה קדושה לציית להם" (הליכות עולם ח"א עמ' רס"ו).

    הגאון רבי ניסים קרליץ שליט"א: "עד ששואלים על יו"ט עדיין איני יודע היתר לעשן בחול אחרי שהרופאים קבעו שזה סכנה" (הובא ריש ספר חיים ללא עישון ע"פ התורה).

    דעת האגרות משה זצוק"ל: "אבל ודאי מן הראוי לכל איש ובפרט לבני תורה שלא לעשן מאחר שהוא חשש סכנתא ואין בזה שום תועלת וגם הנאה לאלו שלא הורגלו בזה וממילא ודאי אין להתרגל לזה ולא יניח אדם לבניו הקטנים שיתרגלו בזה אף אם הוא עצמו נתרגל, וגם בלא ענין חשש הסכנה הזה יש לאסור להתרגל בזה דהא ודאי אין להמשיך עצמו לרבוי תאוות והנאות" "... והקלקול לחלות מזה הוא עכ"פ רק מיעוט קטן וכ"ש להחלות מזה בסרטן ובעוד מחלות מסוכנות הוא קטן ביותר... ובחשש כזה אמרינן שומר פתאים ה'. אבל ודאי מן הראוי לכל איש ובפרט לבני תורה שלא לעשן מאחר שהוא חשש סכנתא ואין בזה שום תועלת" (אגר"מ ח"מ ח"ב סי' ע"ו). "וכבר בשנת 2004 למנינם פורסם (בירחון British Medical Journal 04/328:1519) כי הוכח שיותר מחצי מהמעשנים מתים כתוצאה מהעישון. ומה צריך יותר מזה כדי לחשוב בבירור שהאגרות משה לא היה פוסק כן בזמנינו" (משפט הכתובה ח"ו עמ' שכ"ח).

    הגאון רבי דוד פיינשטיין שליט"א: "ושמעתי מראש הישיבה מרן הרה"ג ר' דוד פיינשטיין שליט"א דהיום לפי מה שאומרים הרופאים שכמעט אחד משלשה או אחד משנים מהנוהגים לעשן סיגריות נחלים לאחר זמן במחלות חמורות רח"ל, פשוט דלפי האגרות משה (בחו"מ ח"ב סי' עו) אסור לסמוך על שומר פתאים ד' בכה"ג, דמוכח שם דדעת אביו ז"ל להקל בזה אינו אלא לפי האומדנא של אותו זמן (בשנת תשמ"א) כמו שכתב שרובא דרובא מהמעשנים לא מסתכנים בזה "ורק מיעוט קטן" מסוכנים להחלות, והוסיף עוד שם שאותם שיבאו להחלות במחלות חמורות הוי מיעוט קטן ביותר, וז"ל 'והקלקול לחלות מזה הוא עכ"פ רק מיעוט קטן, וכ"ש להחלות מזה בסרטן ובעוד מחלות מסוכנות הוא קטן ביותר' עכ"ל" (הג"ר ברוך מאסקאויץ מח"ס שו"ת ודברת בם, קובץ לתורה והוראה, תשע"ב, עמ' 67 וע"ע משפט הכתובה ח"ו עמ' שכ"ח).

    שו"ת רבבות אפרים: "בעישון שהוברר שזה סכנה אז זה מאבד עצמו לדעת ובודאי אסור לעשן ואין שום היתר" (ח"ח סי' תקפ"ו).

    הגאון רבי אשר וייס שליט"א: "דלענ"ד אסור לעשן כל השנה כולה משום ונשמרתם מאוד לנפשותכם" (הגדה של פסח מנחת אשר, תשובה כ"ג).

    הגאון רבי חיים קניבסקי שליט"א: "שאלה: האם אלו שמעשנים שבע סיגריות ביום מותרים לעשן ביו"ט?
    תשובה: גם בחול אסור" (שאלת רב עמ' צ"ב).

    Posted 11 months ago #

38. yekke2
    Member

    To summarize your post, Zvei Dinim - Chofetz Chaim (Mishne Bruro...), R' Ahron Kotler zt"l, R' Yaakov Kaminetsky zt''l, the Be'er Moshe, the Tzitz Eliezer, R' Moshe Shternbuch Shlit"a, R' Elyashiv Shlit"a, R' Chaim Kanievsky Shlit"a, R' Osher Veis Shlit"a, the Rivvos Ephraim Shlit"a, R' Dovid Feinstein Shlit"a, R' Moshe Feinstein Zatzal, R' Nissim Karelitz Shlit"a, R' Ovadia Yosef Shlit"a, R' Bentzion Aba Shaul zt"l, and R' Shlomo Zalman Aurbach, zt"l all say that it is ASSUR TO SMOKE, EVEN DURING THE WEEKDAY!!!!

    Posted 11 months ago #

39. Health
    Member

    yekke2 - They say because of the Asifa against the internet many people not just got filters, but lots stopped their internet subscription.
    Can you imagine if they made an Asifa against smoking? -probably lots would just quit cold turkey.
    And it would be praised amongst the Goyim in their press, because this is something that they even agree with.

    Posted 11 months ago #

40. gavra_at_work
    ^caution

    yekke2: My response got blocked, but I will summarize.

    If the Chazon Ish knew how to do brain surgery from learning Toirah, Kal V'Choimer the P'nei Yehoshua knew what smoking would do to the lungs from his vast knowledge of Toirah! And still, the P'nei Yehoshua said smoking is healthy. Either "Nishtanu HaTeva" (which I have never seen in an anti-smoking P'sak) , or the studies were not done on Yidden, who react physically differently than Eino Yehudim (as per Chazal).

    (Poe's)

    Posted 11 months ago #

41. Health
    Member

    GAW -"If the Chazon Ish knew how to do brain surgery from learning Toirah, Kal V'Choimer the P'nei Yehoshua knew what smoking would do to the lungs from his vast knowledge of Toirah! And still, the P'nei Yehoshua said smoking is healthy. Either "Nishtanu HaTeva" (which I have never seen in an anti-smoking P'sak) , or the studies were not done on Yidden, who react physically differently than Eino Yehudim (as per Chazal)."

    Your post is way off!

    First of all, you didn't address "zvei dinim"'s points:

    "1. The Pnei Yehosuah (Shabbos לט:) says
    נראה דעישון הטובא"ק נמי הוי לבריאת הגוף
    The P'nei Yehoshua only says נראה."

    Do you know the difference between Nirah and it definitely is?

    "2) The Pnei Yehoshua is talking about the sugyah of אוכל נפש on יום טוב, where the criteria relevant has to do with the REASON the person is doing it and not the actual RESULT.
    This is why the Pnei Yehoshua says נראה דעישון הטובא"ק נמי הוי לבריאת הגוף which has nothing to do with the actual effect."

    So this point is that maybe he is talking in the here and now and therefore it's Oichel Nefesh and can be done on Yom Tov, but he knew that in the long term it was dangerous to do.

    Second of all, your deduction that it must be either people changed or Jews aren't affected by smoking is No proof. Because even without the things Zvei Dinim mentioned, even if you want to believe the Pnei Yehoshua said it's healthy - you simply can say tobacco in itself is healthy, but nowadays the way they make cigarettes and similar stuff is with many additives. It very well could be this is what makes smoking dangerous!

    Posted 11 months ago #

42. lakewhut
    Member

    True. If one would grow his own tobacco the dangers are much less.

    Posted 11 months ago #

43. Pirate
    Member

    The reason why people start smoking is simple. PEER PREASURE.

    Posted 11 months ago #

44. takahmamash
    Member

    Peer pressure is a pretty dumb and immature reason to start smoking.

    Posted 11 months ago #

45. gavra_at_work
    ^caution

    Health:

    When you quoted me, you forgot the last line.

    If the Gedolim want people to stop smoking for your S'vara that the P'nei Yehoshua was incorrect, then they should have said so. Obviously they do not want to do so, so bochrim can still use him as a heter. No different than some MO using Rav Moshe (also in the Miyut) as a heter for Chalov "Hacompanies".

    (Poe's)

    P.S. (not Poe's). I know nothing about additives, as I have never smoked.

    Posted 11 months ago #

46. yekke2
    Member

    Gavra_at_work "yekke2: My response got blocked, but I will summarize."

    I can understand why your response got blocked. I am not Chas VeShalom suggesting to forget about the Pnei Yehoshua - the poster 'Health' already explained to you why they are not connected. But you seem to be suggesting that the Pnei Yehoshua must have gained his knowledge from Torah - i agree with that - but R' Moshe Feinstein, R' Elyashiv, R' Chaim Kanievsky, The Chofetz Chaim and the rest of the Choshuve (see Zvei Dinim's post for full list) all ALSO got their knowledge from Torah.
    And besides, Yochid VeRabim Halocho KeRabim!!!

    Posted 11 months ago #

47. Pirate
    Member

    @takahmamash When are most of these people starting to smoke? Are they mature 30 year olds? Or are they Teenagers who are more likely to be making stupid decisions.
    You obviously are not a teen and don't think like one. If you were to view how a teen thought you would see that they want to hang out with their friends and have something in common with them. Plus these people try to imitate the older bochrim who they see smoking and it gets in their head that its yeshivish to smoke.

    Posted 11 months ago #

48. Health
    Member

    GAW -"When you quoted me, you forgot the last line."

    No, I didn't. I only quote what I'm responding to. Your post is up there for anybody to read.

    Btw, what does "Poe's" mean or stand for? Peace on earth?

    "If the Gedolim want people to stop smoking for your S'vara that the P'nei Yehoshua was incorrect, then they should have said so. Obviously they do not want to do so, so bochrim can still use him as a heter."

    You may have not understood my post -so I'll explain it. Who said the Pnei Yeshoshua held smoking isn't dangerous? Read Zvei Dinim's post. He gives a reason that maybe the PY was only talking about the Oichel Nefesh part, not that he was saying it isn't dangerous in the long run. I also added that maybe in the PY's time when they smoked it was pure and nowadays it isn't.
    So you have two reasons to say that the PY would never hold nowadays that smoking is healthy.
    All the Rabbonim who said it's Ossur to smoke don't even have to discuss the PY because there is no premise that he holds Muttar nowadays.

    "as I have never smoked."

    Just curious, if you aren't a smoker -why are you always defending smokers? Are you just the type of person that is an Ipcha Mistavra -a Moshe Kapoieah?

    Posted 11 months ago #

49. yekke2
    Member

    Pirate - I am a teen and some of my friends smoke, and plenty of times they have offered me cigarettes. But although everybody gives into peer pressure - look at the filthy habit and think again - PEER PRESSURE should not lose you a good chance at life!!!

    Posted 11 months ago #

50. gavra_at_work
    ^caution

    yekke2: Furthermore, the Gedolim of now would have to be Moide that the Gedolim of the earlier generations were being Over Issurim D'Oraysah (Granted B'Shoggeg) by smoking, and those who do so now are no different (and possibly worse) then those who eat pig, or watch unfiltered internet (I love the usage of that term as a Guzma for the "P" word). That is something that the Gedolim as of yet have not been willing to do.

    (Not Poe's)

    Posted 11 months ago #

RSS feed for this topic

Reply »

You must log in to post.