Letter and Spirit: A Healthy Body and Soul

If smoking is so dangerous, why has no Halachic Issur been issued against it? Does keeping Kosher make us physically healthier? These questions are addressed by the Rebbe in two letters found in the archives of Rabbi Nissan Mindel, a personal secretary of the Rebbe, and were made available for publication by his son-in-law Rabbi Sholom Ber Shapiro.

This new weekly feature is made possible by a collaboration between CrownHeights.info and Nissan Mindel Publications. Once a week we will be publishing unique letters of the Rebbe that were written originally in the English language, as dictated by the Rebbe to Rabbi Mindel.

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                                                                                                                                   By the Grace of G-d

5739

Prof.

Brooklyn, N.Y.

This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter in which you write about the problem of smoking and ask why no issur has been issued against it, etc.

I note from your letter that you are aware of halachic problems in issuing an issur. Rabbinic authorities have traditionally been reluctant to proclaim issurim, eve in non-controversial situations, when it involved a Gzeirah Sh’ain Rov Hatzibur Yecholim Laamod Bah in which case an issur would force many into a position of being maizidim instead of shogagim.

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 par with smoking “pot” would increase the incidence of drug abuse and drug addiction, 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 pervasive 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 M’od Lenafshosaicem. 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 being counterproductive, there is also the possibility of a harmless cigarette being introduced before long.

Since everything is by Hashgocho Protis  and you have written to me on the subject, perhaps there is a more practical reason for our exchange of correspondence which I ought to bring to your attention – after some prefatory remarks.

Every Jew is obligated by the Great Principle of our Torah, v’ohavto lre’acho komocho, to help his brethren not only materially and health wise, but also, indeed even more so, spiritually.

A person who is in a prominent position, in whatever field, usually has a special influence also in the areas not related to his field. In keeping with the imperative, “Know Him in all your ways,” such a person has the additional obligation and privilege to use his influence to strengthen and disseminate Yiddishkeit, Torah and mitzvos.

In light of the above, and seeing your concern for the physical health of fellow Jews, I wish to express my confident hope that you are using your influence in the fullest measure to promote the spiritual health of your Jewish students and of the Jewish community at large. And in this case, expert opinion is certainly undivided that the Torah and mitzvos are “our life and the length of our days.”

Also in regard to non-Jewish students there is the obligation of promoting the so-called Seven Noachide Laws with all their ramifications – the Divinely ordained basic laws of morality, justice, etc. for all mankind (“Noach’s descendents”), without which no decent human society could long endure.

And there is the assurance that “words coming from the heart enter the heart and are eventually effective,” especially when coupled with a living example.

As we are now in the month of Elul, it gives me pleasure to extend to you and yours prayerful wishes for a Kesivo Vachisimo Tovo Umesukah.

With blessing,

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                                                                                                                                             By the Grace of G-d

5736

Mrs.

University Heights, Ohio

Blessing and Greeting:

I duly received your letter and as requested, will remember you in prayer for the fulfillment of your heart’s desires for the good.

On the basis of your writing, it is surely unnecessary to emphasize to you at length the importance of Yiddishkeit as a continuous daily experience, not as some misconceived persons may think it is sufficient to observe it on exceptional occasions or special days. For, as it is written, the Torah and mitzvos are “our life and length of our days.” Obviously, life must be continuous and cannot be reserved for exceptional occasions or special days. So it is with the life-giving Torah and the mitzvos which the Torah instructs us to observe every day. No doubt you have had occasion to discuss this topic with our mutual friend in your community and will also do so in the future. Hence, there is no need for any more on this, although he subject matter certainly warrants a great deal more to be said.

I would like to dwell, however, on a point mentioned at the conclusion of your letter, namely in reference to kashrut. It has always been known and it has been particularly emphasized lately, that the diet is very important for the general state of health, as well as for the emotional life, etc., and many books and articles have been and are being written on the subject. It is now universally believed and accepted that in the area of eating and drinking a human being cannot just follow his desires and temptations, but must learn to regulate his habits. And this is what the experts and dieticians try to do, namely to prescribe the right diet of foods and beverages for persons in accordance with their type of activity, environment, etc.

As usual, wherever there is human research, there is always something new from time to time and very often the latest findings invalidate previous ones, though it is assumed that in due course the latest may similarly be invalidated. However, laymen can only follow the advice of the experts, as long as they are trustworthy. And he accepts the restrictions they impose, and accepts them willingly and readily, and even pays for their advice, and so on. Needless to say, this is as it should be, since not everyone has the time and capacity to do the research to find out what is good for him physically and spiritually.

In light of the above, how grateful a Jew must be to G-d, the Creator of the world and the Essence of Perfection, Who is certainly trustworthy, for His directives in this field, by giving us our Dietary Laws, the laws of kashrut, which ensure our good health physically, mentally and spiritually. Moreover, these are laws and regulations which we can carry out with relative ease. It follows therefore, that knowing this, a Jew should not rest but try his very utmost to make other Jews in his environment aware of this importance and vital aspect of the daily life and encourage them to order their life accordingly. One of the most effective ways of influence is to show a living example. But inasmuch as other people do not always emulate the example one hundred percent, thinking that for them it would suffice to follow it up to half way or so, the example must be on a much higher level in order to make allowances for human nature.

May G-d grant that just a you wrote your letter, so you should have good news to report in regard to its contents.

With blessing,

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The above letters are from the archives of Rabbi Dr. Nissan Mindel, a personal secretary to the Previous Rebbe and The Rebbe, whose responsibilities included the Rebbe’s correspondence in English.

Many of the letters are now being published in The Letter and the Sprit, a series of volumes by Nissan Mindel Publications.

We thank Rabbi Sholom Ber Shapiro, director of Nissan Mindel Publications and the one entrusted by Rabbi Mindel, his father-in-law, with his archives, for making these letters available to the wider public. May the merit of the many stand him in good stead.