Every year, a lesson on “V’Nishmartem Me’od L’Nafshoteichem†raises a question from the students about smoking. Given the fact that we know with absolute certainty that smoking is harmful, why are there many observant Jews who (openly) smoke? I have explained to the students that years ago we didn’t know how harmful smoking was. So when we see “older people†smoking today, we can assume that when they started smoking they were not aware of the dangers. And now, unfortunately, they are addicted. But I am at a loss to explain to the students how it is that many young people, particularly yeshiva students here in Israel, openly smoke. Additionally, while many “inappropriate behaviors†are not tolerated in these yeshivot, the Roshei Yeshiva/administrators/faculty completely ignore the smoking. How can I reconcile this for students? How does smoking in 2016 mesh with “V’Nishmartem�
