Hazardous to your health

Unfortunately, smoking is a big problem in Israel. Its is very prevalent, even among Chareidi society. So we are doing our best to educate our children from a young age that smoking is dangerous and that it can make a person get very sick, and that it could even make a person die.

Well it seems like Yisrael not only got our message, but is giving it over to other people as well- namely, his Rebbe (YIKES!), who is a smoker! Today he told me that he told Rebbe Shea that if he smokes he could be "met" (die), but, as Yisrael claims, Rebbe Shea told him that Chassidim can't die from smoking (I don't know what the Rebbe really did answer him, but somehow I don't think he said that!)

So after my first reaction of horror that Yisrael is mussaring out his Rebbe, I told him that smoking doesn't always make a person die, but it can make them very sick. And I quickly added that we don't want Rebbe Shea to be sick because he's a really nice Rebbe.

But as soon as I finished, I regretted saying that, because I knew what Yisrael's next sentence would be: "But its okay if Rebbe Shoolem gets sick from cigariot because he's not a nice Rebbe" (Rebbe Shoolem is his assistant Rebbe, who apparently did not hit it off very well with Yisrael)

So a piece of advice to all of you out there- not only should you say no to smoking, but make sure to stay off of Yisrael's hit list!