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| Orthodox Jews In U.S. Now Prohibited From Using Tobacco |
| 2006-07-08 |
| The VaÂ’ad Halacha of the Rabbinical Council of America, in its first decision in recent years, has issued a detailed responsum to explain why the use of tobacco is prohibited by Jewish Law. The VaÂ’ad Halachah (or Halacha Committee) of The Rabbinical Council of America has issued a unanimous opinion affirming that, in spite of its widespread practice even within many rabbinic and yeshiva circles, the smoking of tobacco products is prohibited by Jewish law. For some observers of Jewish life, this decision might be casually dismissed as a statement of the obvious, or in any case, as long overdue. But from a different perspective, this ruling illustrates the highly significant fact that accepted practice and illustrious precedent notwithstanding, Jewish law is fully able to incorporate new realities, recognize new and reliable scientific findings, and embrace the need to change heretofore acceptable behavior. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #6 RD - I was a Redman and Levi Garrett guy in college. Tried it again after quitting for 5 yrs and thought I was gonna pass out on the softball field....no more for me... :-) |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-07-08 18:14 |
| #5 The RCAÂ’s Vaad Halacha, chaired for many years by illustrious leaders of the RCA, most especially the late and revered Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, was recently reconstituted under the chairmanship of Rabbi Asher Bush. Good gawd, is there nowhere the Bushes' don't have a representative? (/channeling LLL Moonbat) |
| Posted by: BA 2006-07-08 16:02 |
| #4 after 15 years I still miss my Copenhagen & Skol Bawwaaaaaaaa |
| Posted by: RD 2006-07-08 14:40 |
| #3 MoP :> |
| Posted by: 6 2006-07-08 11:49 |
| #2 At least those Orthodox Jews who respect the decisons of that particular rabbinic council. This press release ignores the opinions of the Conservative councils, the Reform council, the Lubavicher Hassidic council, the other Hassidic groups, the official, government-sponsored council in Israel which does not respect anything decided by anyone else, the Ultra-orthodox in Israel, who think all the rest of us aren't really Jews anyway... No worries -- there will be Jews earning death by lung cancer for a good long time to come. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2006-07-08 09:28 |
| #1 So go ahead and smoke! Get cancer, see if I care. |
| Posted by: Mother of Penguin 2006-07-08 00:21 |