To PBA and Kanoi:
Dayan Fisher ZT”L, ?????? ?????, was not eligible to pasken the question about smoking. He was himself seriously addicted. In his last years, his status was so impaired that he required oxygen most of the day. He was seen disconnecting his oxygen to smoke many times a day. This is the addict that is eventually allowed to continue the drug use because there is no way he will stop it and establish abstinence. The other poskim were unanimous, and his being excluded from eligibility to pasken leaves us with no choice other than to recognize the universality of the issur. It is still bothersome to see any Yid smoking, and I wish them a Divine inspiration that clarifies the needs for them to quit. No one said it’s easy, but having a habit to an issur is not an exemption.