... In reply to your question about smoking:
In light of the fact that smoking is detrimental to a person's health, this falls under the heading of a fundamental principle of Shulchan Aruch (the Code of Jewish Law), which clearly states that a person is obligated to guard his health.
However, the harm done by continuing to smoke must at times be weighed against the distress it may cause the person if he ceases smoking. Accordingly, each situation must be determined individually.
Nevertheless, if the doctor orders his patient to stop smoking, clearly the patient must conduct himself according to the doctor's instructions — and this too, [i.e., following the doctor's instructions,] is one of the directives of the Torah.
(From a letter of the Rebbe, dated 5743)
This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter of ... in which you write about the problem of smoking and ask why no issur [prohibition] has been issued against it, etc.
I note from your letter that you are aware of the halachic problems in issuing an issur. Rabbinic authorities have traditionally been reluctant to proclaim issurim, even in non-controversial situations, when it involved a "Gezeirah sh'ein rov hatzibur yecholim laamod bah, a "Decree that most of the congregation cannot abide by," in which case an issur would force many into a position of being meizidim, sinning deliberately, rather than shogagim, sinning unintentionally.
Certainly there would be no case for issuing an issur in a matter on which authorities differ.
As you know, there are those, albeit in the minority, who claim that the health hazard of cigarette smoking has not been proven conclusively. This is perhaps one of the reasons why the manufacture and sale of cigarettes has not been outlawed by the health authorities.
In recent years there has been a further consideration, namely, that the prohibition of cigarette smoking, and placing it on a par with smoking marijuana, would increase the incidence of drug abuse and drug addition, since it is believed that cigarette smoking, especially among young people, provides a certain "escape," and to some degree a substitute for drug abuse so prevalent among their peers.
Needless to say, these and other considerations do not justify the use of something that has already been prohibited by the imperative of Venishmartem meod lenafshoseichem, "Be careful to scrupulously guard your health." But I have mentioned the above by way of answering your letter as to some of the reasons why no issur has been proclaimed against cigarette smoking.
In addition to [the proposed issur] being counterproductive, there is also the possibility of a harmless cigarette being introduced in the future. ...
(From a letter of the Rebbe, in the year 5739)
This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 7th of Adar in which you write about the problem of smoking.
Needless to say, this is a matter for specialists in this field, namely, the medical profession. Herein also lies the answer why rabbinic authorities have not taken a position on this matter.
Additionally, and this, too, is a basic factor:
Even according to those medical authorities who hold the opinion that cigarette smoking is harmful to the health, this opinion is based on the quality of cigarettes as they are now manufactured, containing as they do harmful substances.
A great deal of research is being conducted to find a way to eliminate those harmful substances in cigarettes and produce a harmless cigarette, in which case there would be no room at all for issuing a prohibition on cigarette smoking.
Thus, for rabbis to issue a ban at this time would, at best, be premature, but more importantly, any ban in accordance with the Torah would be a permanent one, as the Torah itself is permanent and unchangeable.
As for the general obligation to take care of one's health, there is no need for rabbis to take any special action, since this is a fundamental din (law) in the Shulchan Aruch (Code of Jewish Law). ...
(Heichal Menachem III, p. 97 [50])
Notes:
- (Back to text) From a letter of the Rebbe, dated 20 Adar, 5739.
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