Reflections and Tobacco

Day 35: Shabbat

I'll be honest: I barely remember Monday. I could probably give you a general idea of what happened but if feels like so long ago. But hey, tomorrow is Friday and I'll be honest again: by the time the week reaches Thursday, all I want is Shabbas. That's really all I want.

• Don't "Steal" Another Person's Mind: I realize now that there is a relationship I need to adapt in my life because I think we're on different pages...
• Who Is Wise?: I'm trying to be wise, I really am. But sometimes, actions don't lead to the consequences you anticipate. Does this mean that no one is actually wise? Or have the wise people of the world analyzed people so thoroughly that this no longer applies to them?
• The Special Obligation to Visit and Help People, Particularly Poor People, Who Are Sick: N/A
• Visiting the Sick: Seven Suggestions: This is so near and dear to my heart because of everything that has gone on in my family recently. I can't even begin to emphasize how true all seven of these suggestions are and the impact they make on a patient.
• A Gynecologist from New Jersey, a Lawyer from Brooklyn: N/A
• Sharing Helpful News: N/A

Day 36: Is a Jew Permitted to Smoke?

I feel like one of the first things I learned as a child was that smoking is bad for your health. We see it on posters, we see it on commercials, it's highlighted so much in children's culture that sometimes it seems irrelevant. But then I came to college. None of my friends smoke but there are so many designated smoking areas around campus that sometimes you look around and wonder "why are they dong this to themselves?"

Rabbi Telushkin reviews in this section how the rabbis used to see smoking as a positive thing. It was healthy and pleasurable and popular. Nowadays however, we are more informed and knowledgeable and we know that smoking is most definitely not healthy.

As Jews we are commanded to treat our lives carefully, to not foolishly endanger ourselves. Personally, I'm happy to follow this commandment, it's easy for me. Though we see now the debate: the rabbis used to think smoking was good so they allowed it, now we know smoking is bad...so what's the answer? No, Jews should not smoke.

"According to halacha (Jewish law), we have stewardship rather than ownership of the body given to us by our Creator, and therefore may not jeopardize our life" (Teshuvot for the Nineties, Rabbis W. Gunther Plaut and Nathan Drazin).