Cigarettes, tobacco and Tabak snuff: Must they be Kosher for Pesach

This Halacha is an excerpt from our Sefer

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May one smoke tobacco/cigarettes?

Tobacco, and many cigarettes contain Chametz ingredients, such as fragrances made from Chametz alcohols, as well as cigarette paper coated with starch.[1] Accordingly, the custom is to be stringent to only smoke cigarettes that have been authorized for use over Pesach.[2] However, from the letter of the law, if the Chametz ingredients that are added are not edible, there is room to be lenient.[3] This may not apply if a Chametz based starch is added to the paper, in which case the starch never loses edibility and would be under Biblical prohibition against eating. The above is only from a Chametz perspective. However, smoking is forbidden throughout the year due to the health risks that it entails.

 

May one smell snuff/Tobacco?[4]

Yes.[5] It does not require a Hashgacha.

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[1] Admur 467:24 and M”A 467:10 regarding tobacco, that it is commonly soaked in barley and is hence to be put away in a closed room or behind a Mechitza; Sdei Chemed 1:3; See Beis Meir 467; Maharm Shick O.C. 242; Halef Lecha Shlomo 204; Divrei Chaim Y.D. 20; Orchos Chaim [Spinka] 467:21; Kaneh Bosem 1:25

[2] Admur ibid; Nitei Gavriel Pesach 1; Heard from Harav Eli Landau; See Otzer Minhagei Chabad 23 that the Rebbe Rashab would smoke on Pesach. The students would sift it to make sure that there is no Chametz contained in it.

[3] One may smoke them being that one does not have intention to eat it, and by inedible items only if one has intention does it become prohibited to eat. [Admur ibid]

[4] See Beis Meir 467; Maharm Shick O.C. 242; Halef Lecha Shlomo 204; Divrei Chaim Y.D. 20; Orchos Chaim [Spinka] 467:21; Kaneh Bosem 1:25

[5] The reason: As even if the product contains Chametz, it has been destroyed, and is thus not prohibited in benefit, and smelling is considered benefit and not eating. [Halef Lecha Shlomo] Alternatively, smelling an Issur is considered an irregular form of pleasure which is allowed. [Maharam Shick ibid]

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