How do I quit smoking?
Question submitted to “Ask the Rabbi” by:
Name: Michael
City: Surrey
Profession: Mason
Full Question:
“How do I ask Hashem (God) to help me quit smoking?”
Rabbi Tully Bryks responds:
One way to look at our body is that G-d has given us a free loan. He wants us to utilize the resources that He gave us to make the most of our time here in this world. At the end of our lives, He will be taking our “loaner body” back, although our soul will live on forever. He expects us to return the body in good condition, without any signs of neglect. As such, we are commanded to take good care of our bodies. While there were times when the dangers of smoking were unclear, the consensus in the medical community today is that smoking can cause lots of damage to our bodies. As such, it is against Jewish law to start smoking. Once someone is addicted, there is sensitivity that stopping cold turkey may not the best solution for everyone, so each individual is charged with finding the best method for them.
So how does one quit smoking? When it comes to any pursuit or goal in life, there are really two components:
- Hishtadlus – reasonable effort that we must exert
- Bitachon – Trust in G-d that He will provide what we need to complement our efforts
For part one, you should probably consult an addiction specialist or a mental health professional with experience in this area. They can work with you to formulate an action plan to quit smoking. It is essential that you follow every step of the action plan without skipping or dismissing any of them.
For part two, G-d loves to hear our prayers. Open up your heart to Him and let Him know how much this means to you. Ask Him to give you the strength that you need to finally quit, and to help limit or eliminate any urges going forward. Let Him know how much you love Him and that you want to use your body for more productive things. You may even want to list some of the positive things you would plan to do with the new-found extra time and money at your disposal, thanks to kicking the habit.
Once G-d sees that you are sincere and genuinely making your best effort to stop, He will provide the assistance you need so that you can achieve your goals. However, He will not force your hand and the final decision will be up to you!
May you realize the inner strength that you already have and fully reach your potential in this world!
Recent Comments