by Rabbi Yair Hoffman for 5tjt.com
Snuff tobacco came to Europe in what is now known as the Columbian Exchange. In 1492 and 1493, there was the widespread transfer of plants, animals, culture, human populations, technology, diseases, and ideas between the Americas and the Old World in Europe.
One such item that came from Brazil was pulverized tobacco. The Indians living there harvested the tobacco, then pulverized it and flavored it. They then had the practice of sniffing it, giving them a near-instant nicotine high.
The item comes in tins and yields anywhere from 15 to 25 sniffs per can. A can of snuff tobacco costs about $4.19. On average, a hit of tobacco snuff costs about 19 cents.
Rav Nosson Wachtfogel (1910-1998) zt”l, the Mashgiach of BMG in Lakewood, once related the following story that transpired between Rav Elchonon Wasserman hy”d (1874-1941) and the Chofetz Chaim (1838-1933):
In conversation with the Chofetz Chaim, Rav Elchonon Wasserman was praising the establishment of a new European Yeshiva. The Chofetz Chaim inquired of him, “Do they have a Mussar Seder?”
Rav Elchonon responded, “They do not, but –“
The Chofetz Chaim responded, “A Yeshiva without a Mussar Seder is not worth a shmek Tabbak!”
Leket Reshimos Elul and Yomim Noraim p. 38.
The Chofetz Chaim, in his Mishna Brurah 1:12 writes of the obligation to study mussar daily. He writes that it is more of an obligation than studying Mishnayos.
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6 Responses
Was that insight sourced in the halakha, or a midrash, or was it just a personal observation?
The people around him are all dressed differently, as one would expect from a religion that believes we are all unique, created in a tzelem elokim, which has no unique style.
Why didn’t esteemed people of previous generations know that snuff and all of the tobacco forms was a significant carcinogen and should be avoided at all costs? Why did so many think that it was “good for you” either as a stomach aide or something else similarly ridiculous?
If this was a story only about the need for mussar, I will promptly “get myself to a nunnery.”
A shmek tabbak is an expression, similar to “What am I, chopped liver?”.
It is a rhetorical expression used by a person who feels they are being given less attention or consideration than someone else.
Like chopped liver, snuff tobacco is not appreciated by everyone, some actually do not like it at all. Liver is also made from secondary parts of beef or chicken, not the main body of meat. Snuff tobacco is usually ground up tobacco and not as prime as the regular tobacco. Liver is also served as a side, rather than main dish. Snuff tobacco is also used in passing, rather than when engaging in a session of tobacco consumption.
But doing bedikas chometz in this article, Yarir, what halacha or hashkofa or value is there in this article??
The picture of the Chofetz Chaim z”l is doctored. In the film which this came from his eyes were not visible as they were closed
To unommin,
When my Father O”H came to America after the war (1948) he went to a Medical Doctor who advised him to start smoking cigarettes to clear up his facial acne. It may have done so. He continued to smoke a pack a day except for Shabbos until October 22, 1972 when I safely returned home from the Army and the Viet Nam War.
Science is theory. Only Torah is Emes.