It's important to note the date this shiur was given. A lot has happened in medicne in 25 years as, indeed, Rabbi Bleich anticipated.

I would like to suggest that the presumed smoking risk in 1982 was far more accepted than Rabbi Bleich implies. I recall alread in 1970 being show gory operating room films of black lungs with the express purpose to discourage us from taking on smoking. My impression is that discouraging smokng was standard educational material in the Ohio school system. I recall noting in 1973 that the previous generation could be excused for smoking but not ours.

So I'm a bit baffled by Rabbi Bleich's assumptions.

Steve

The use of the Binyan Tzion's desert and sea travel source to justifiy smoking is to my mind a chidush. Clearly the stepping on to the boat or desert caravan is risk free as R. Bleich states. There is no cumulative effect of anything. At some point there can suddenly occur an event of risk.

Smoking is a constant progression of cumulative effect. While a single puff cannot be measured in its effect, it's still there, albeit minuscule.

I think there were some in the audience who were trying to make a similar point.