An anti-smoking campaign was held during Purim to prevent
boys and teenagers from picking up the habit.
On Purim many parents overlook the use of accessories and
substances that they keep far away from their children during
the rest of the year, thinking that no harm will come to them
during such a short period of time of supervised mischief.
The list of items permitted often includes cigarettes. Many
children who are exposed to smokers, especially the sons or
brothers of smokers, find it an apt time to try a cigarette
for the first time.
Too many of these experiments lead to sampling cigarettes
after Purim as well, until the teenager becomes hooked, which
poses a serious health hazard as is well known. Many parents
deeply regret how one day of smoking turned into habitual
smoking due to a lapse in attentiveness.
An organization called Chaviv, whose volunteers are aiming to
stamp out cigarette smoking in the chareidi sector, are
trying to put a stop to the "tradition" of trying cigarettes
on Purim, when people tend to lower their guard and many
youths see a cigarette as a respected "custom."
Educators, advertisers and other professionals who are
members of the organization sat down to come up with an idea
to induce independent resistance to smoking beforehand and
concluded that providing encouragement and assistance is the
most effective way to drive home the message against
smoking.
