Smoking Habit

I actually saw a pregnant woman today smoking!!! I didn’t have the guts to tell her anything but I was really shocked!

One thing is for sure, you wont see smokers running the NYC Marathon!

My grandpa smoke for over 60 years, when he went to the doctor, the doctor showed him all the damage to his lungs, he never lifted a cigarette again.

MaKesher: Why not? Why can’t they run in the marathon?

It is because physically, they do not have the lung capacity to be able to run for that amount of time, or sustain that kind of physical effort.

That is why at the Olympics in China the American athletes came off the plane wearing masks. They were trying to protect their lungs from the pollution due to the effect it could possibly have on their athletic performance – especially when winning and losing sometimes comes down to hundredths of a second.

MaKesher, It has nothing to do with how the individual looks, it comes down to their deteriorating health. Medical Science has proven smoking to hinder your lung capacity, and your lungs play a major role in giving the person the ability to run over 26 miles. (Among all the other damage smoking does to our health)

Since when does medical science have the only say in the yeshiva world? Hashem can do anything He wants to proove to those of us that are toos imple to understand His great ways. So I still think if these people put their minds to it they can accomplish anything in the entire world.(even run in the olympics and win first prize) If you want it bad enough shoot for the top and with Hashem’s help you will succeed.

GOOD LUCK to all of those people that have dreams and willeach to their highest point and overcome thier habits (whatever they may be) and start living life in a way that YOU wll be proud of later.

Let me preface by saying that, despite tremendous peer pressure, I have never and hopefully will never lift a cigarette to my lips.

That being said, I believe people must be very sensitive toward smokers. Remember that the classical, fallback explanation of why people smoke–they’re just trying to be cool–is an outdated old aphorism that doesn’t apply nearly as much as it once did, when cigarette billboards and commercials were commonplace.

Smoking is an addiction, as is caffeine and, sometimes, overeating–both of which are likewise abused, on occasion, by yeshiva bachurim. If one wishes to take an altruistic approach and question why yeshiva bachurim don’t heed the call, “venishmartem meod es nafshosechem,” they should likewise be fiery advocates against the high-caloric meals served daily in yeshiva and capped off by pastries, chulent, kugel, kishke and beer at the end of the week. We are no longer Polish day laborers who burn thousands of calories a week, and heart issues are the leading causes of death. Rabbanim across the world should be demanding that an hour or two of physical exercise become mandatory in all yeshivos.

In addition, there was someone in this thread who wrote that, categorically, “anyone who smokes is a murderer.” It is exactly this sort of attitude that encourages smokers to continue smoking; they know that anyone who speaks this way is so far removed from the realities of nicotine addiction that nothing that person says needs to be taken seriously. Most people can’t “just stop” smoking without an openly medical impetus, no matter how many heartwarming tales you once heard or read about those who did.

Finally, we must remember that those who do triumph over their addiction have not suddenly opened up their whole lives before them in a new, shining and beautiful way; they have managed to control their body’s need for a substance that, throughout the rest of their lives, it will still crave deeply in times of emotional or social stress. For this reason, it is wrong to try telling a smoker how much better and cleaner his/her life will be once smoking is gone from it. Anyone who understands nicotine addiction also understands that quitting does not mean that one will immediately never want to smoke again; it’ll be like having a perpetual itch that they are being asked never to scratch.

Yes, smoking is filthy, dangerous, unhealthy and foolish, but do not presume to treat those who do it as “bad people.” You do not know their stories, and you do not immediately have the moral high ground. Let’s daven that yeshivas will really start pressing home to their bachurim how terrible a thing it is to even start. Let’s hope that yeshivas will someday stop intertwining Purim with smoking, as though it’s some sort of mitzvas ha-yom. Let’s hope they also begin providing regular exercise and extracurricular activities to keep their boys healthy and occupied.

If people really, truly, cared to preserve the lives of smokers, these things would already be the norm.

My boyfriend was a heavy smoker for 12 years. He quit before we started dating (we were friends first) because he knew that I find the habit disgusting. I told him that I can’t control what other people do and that personally I dislike it and could never see myself with a smoker. He stopped smoking cold turkey 2 years ago and has not had a single cigarette since. Due to this, I absolutely believe that people *can* give up smoking. I am not diminishing how difficult it can be. A doctor I know told me she had seen people give up heroin who could not give up smoking. This is part of the reason I am so glad I have never smoked. It makes my life much easier!

To NYmom,

Most of the girls who go out with Lakewood guys don’t care.

In this week’s parsha there is a mekor for chusin cigarettes, Eliezer brought Rivka a pack of camels!!

I think this problem stems from the older generation. These days parents don’t have such a great handle on thier children, so of course they’ll do things to test the waters and sometimes it can be detrimental, almost life-threatening to our children’s lives, and now the way things have progressed are we able to stand up to our children and find them better outlets and better ways to rebel as teenagers, or have we given it up as a lost cause for the entire world that we can’t fix until Mashiach comes? Is it possible to take a look at our past and see where we are now and see if what we’ve become is worth it?

I just learned an amazing proof about smoking. In Rav Dessler’s kuntras Habechira in Michtav MeEliyahu, Rav Dessler brings a very good example to bring across his point on Bechira. He uses the example of a smoker. S/o whos been smoing for a long time and really wants to quit. For wahtever reason he decides this is it and I don’t want to smoke anymore. This is a very hard choice to make and the person should be commended for taking such a big step. Because tis is the first step on the road to recovery. I think it was easier to accept this example of the Rav’s after being divulged the info that he used to be a smoker for many years!! and when it came out that smoking was unhealthy he decided to stop smoking.

Rav Dessler gives tips on how to quit:1.He told all of his talmidim that he was quitting and that made the recovery process much easier in the long run.

I’m sure it was very hard and took a lot of strength and willpower to finally let go of this long lasting habit. I am sure it didn’t happen overnight. Smoking is addicting and it takes alot out of a person to decide and stick to his guns about the choice he has made to give up the smoking.

I know a Rav who told his students (I was there)that he was a smoker for almost 9 years. He tried many times to quit but it didn’t work, then he tried another time this time making a whole gameplan for himself and actually quitting. Here is what he said, he once tried to quit during Bein Hazmanim and he just couldn’t do it-it was too hard to go thru niocotine wihdrawl during the zman. So he waited until Bein Hazmanim and tried again, but this time he also took Rav Dessler’s advice and told his friends I’m quitting to smoke and thier help/encourageness would be much appreciated. Also during the first month of quitting he made for himself a reward system that every morning he would buy for himself fresh doughnuts and would bribe himself=eat them every time he felt the urge to smoke. He said he probably got really fat after that but it didn’t matter b/c he achieved his goal: he quit smoking.(Now he’s as healthy looking as he can be for his age and I’m sure he takes care of himself to the best of his abilities) So for all you people out there that think its too late and it can’t be done THINK AGAIN! The greatest rabbanim in the world have experienced Ta’ava and conquered it, and there lives have gone on pretty well afterwards too. Its never too late to try again. As the saying goes:”You try you fail, you try you fail, but the only true failure is when you stop trying”, so then what should you do? “try again!”

Lots of hatzlacha to all of us trying to overcome our tests in life.

P.S. I usually don’t write really long posts, but this lesson that I learned was so inspiring and it gave me more reason to hope for my friends struggling with smoking that they still can change thier habits, and that yes, a good friend can always be there to help them along even in the darkest hour of struggle and dispair.

All the best,

a caring friend

Walk outside of Maimonides Hospital and you will see the dr.s and nurses smoking. What are pple supposed to think then?

People have a right to do what they will with their lives…

as long as what they are doing is not illegal/contrary to Torah, harmful to another person or the environment, and reasonably not harmful to themselves. The fact that someone still smokes in this day and age when only a moonrock does not know of the dangers of smoking and second-hand smoke,proves that such a person HAS no good judgment.

The reason Hashem probably gave us the Torah rather than allow us to rely on our good judgment to be good people, is that all too often people show very poor judgment, and judgment is a very subjective thing. We live in a day and age where people who are otherwise nice, fine, moral people think nothing of cheating on their taxes, paying cash so they don’t have to pay tax, and do assorted untzniusdik acts because they are “not hurting anyone.” Good judgment is highly overrated.

To Makesher,

Please stop complaining about smoking. Smoking is good for business!

yankdownunder: I think Health was joking. Lighten up.

Haifagirl, that was a pretty bad joke. I don’t like that kind of humor, its not funny at all. Why should we lighten up? Do you care about the things we’ve been saying, do you understand? (this is a question at large not directly directed at haifagirl)

Health I don’t understand why someone in the healing profession would be cynical about a person RL. suffering with a smoking addiction. Why not say Tehilim, maybe in the merit of Dovid Ha Melech the smoker will see the smoke as a signal to quit.

To health

I’m sure professional shrinks would appreciate not to have to be rehab stations for avid smokers as part of thier job description.

#2 I don’t appreciate your sense of humor-cynical or otherwise in this matter, because I get the feeling that you don’t appreciate this topic and the fact that I would like to figure out alternatives to this issue.

#3 we should be trying to guide ppl and just be there for them to explain the ramifications of thier actions and try to get them to see on thier own why they should quit smoking.

And lastly thats what we are trying to hpefully do: give them positive encouragement.:)

Health I don’t understand why someone in the healing profession would be cynical about a person RL. suffering with a smoking addiction.

You cannot help somebody who does not want to be helped. It just isn’t possible.

Sometimes the only things left to do are laugh or cry. And when you’ve already cried too much, you just have to laugh.

MaKesher, yankdownunder and others, be very grateful you haven’t yet reached that point where you’ve cried so much you can’t cry any more.

Sometimes when someone is smoking for a long period, it starts becoming a crutch for them. When they are stressed, smoke. When depressed, smoke. When nervous, smoke. When bored, smoke. The list can go on and on. Just like some individuals who are obese, turn to “food” as an outlet.

The point is, when deciding to quick smoking, something has to take the place of the habit, otherwise, like any other “crutch” that falls, so will the person using it. Most importantly, the person must Want to quick before taking any other steps. People don’t realize that “wanting” to quit is the First step to rid themselves of the smoking habit. That “Want” to quit stage is not as easy as it may sound. It’s very hard for some people to get to that stage with positive intentions. Even those who have the “wanting” to quit step behind them, have a very long way to go.

Support, support, support, is very important for someone who’s trying to quit smoking. The more family and friends there are to give their love and support, understanding and uplifting, the better it will be for someone trying to break the habit.

Perhaps we can dedicate this thread to act as a “Support Group.” For those who smoke, want to quit, in the process of quitting, and those who are smoke free. Together, we can share our hardships, and triumphs as smokers and ex-smokers. As well as others to share what ever helpful knowledge they may want to contribute to the cause. Stories, and experiences. What made you start smoking? How did you quit smoking? What advice can we give our children to prevent them from smoking? and etc…

at this point, I don’t think encouraging most adults to not smoke is a helpful thing.

I think that everyone who could easily quit, has already quit. Why in the world would anyone continue smoking these days? Not only are you endangering your health, but you’re also made into a social pariah, exiled to the doorways of buildings to partake in your habit.

those who still smoke are people with an overly strong addiction to smoking, and they require our compassion, support and, as Health and Yoshi and others said, professional help.

Young people are another story. They should be discouraged and perhaps even shamed into not smoking. I was fortunate that it only took two puffs of a cigarette when I was 18 years old to convince me that smoking was not for me, and I was never again tempted by it.

Probably because they were wise puffs, rather than stupid puffs.

My mother smoked until I was 14. My grandparents smoked, almost everyone smoked. They smoked everywhere, at home, at the table, in the hospital, etc.

This was during a time when the famous Surgeon General’s Report on smoking first came out, and there was lots of pressure from the children to the adults to give up smoking.

Most did. As I said before, everyone who didn’t have a severe and unbearable physical urge gave up smoking over the next 20 years. What sane person wouldn’t do that if he could?

I tried it, because, that’s what teenagers do, I suppose. I had to confirm it wasn’t for me, even though I probably knew that already.

Dear O’oomis: yet people do just that. With cigarettes as well as whiskey.

yoshi- What a wonderful idea to dedicate a thread to support quitting smoking. Who is better to give chizuk and empathize than an ex smoker. Saving money as well as saving the quality of ones health is a very important mitzvah.