By Aryeh Levin, COLlive reporter
Photos by Levik Hertzel – LevikPhoto.com
A full scale anti-smoking campaign in the frum Jewish communities in Brooklyn and the New York area will be launched in the coming months by RCCS – Rofeh Cholim Cancer Society.
An awareness video will be sent to frum websites and pamphlets will be distributed to shuls and schools highlighting the dangers of cigarettes and tobacco.
“Unfortunately we have seen a lot of patients who, had they known the risks of smoking, they would not have ended up where they are today,” said Yoli Brill, Managing Director of the charity which helps fund health insurance policies.
Brill told COLlive.com that according to statistics, every 6.5 seconds someone dies from a smoking-related illness in the world and 5.4 million people a year die from smoking.
But while Purim is a time when some youngsters try their first cigarette, the campaign will only begin after the joyous holiday.
“We need to do this right,” Brill said. “And we need it to reach parents and children. Of the children under 18 who begin smoking, 3,000 a year do so because they saw a parent smoke.”
Brill spoke to COLlive.com following the second annual breakfast benefiting RCCS, spearheaded by the organization’s Young Initiative of Crown Heights.
The organizing committee included Mony Bistritzky, Moshe Kops, Binyomin Levin, Levi Liberow, Moishy Pinson, Yoni Raskin, Hersh Skoblo and Mendy Wilhelm.
The Crown Heights chapter of RCCS began with Rabbi Moshe Klein and Mrs. Bella Rubashkin. “They have organized awareness seminars which literally saved lives,” Brill said. “Six people checked themselves after the lectures and were saved.”
At Sunday’s event in the hall at Crown Condos, some 50 members of young shuls in the neighborhood met for a light meal and heard about the help local residents receive (21 policies in the last year alone at the estimated cost of $200,000).
One of the attendees, inspired by what he heard and saw at the breakfast, pledged to give $11,000 to cover 1 policy.
i need a cigarette after reading this. 🙂
you should do the next campaign by the big yeshivas.
i am so happy that crown heights is getting involved in the health of our community. i really wish a big shturem would be made about obesity here in our community. it is very difficult for me as a mother to run a healthy home when there is so much junk floating around. between the birthday parties in school, lchaims at night, and in general, the whole attitude here about beinng and eating healthy. we must cut it out1 people are getting sick from all this bad food! later on, when they hit the older years and get every kind… Read more »
contact them at info@rccscancer.org
You guys are looking the best 😀
I don’ t have money unfortunately but is there another way I can help this wonderful organization? Please post if you know
you guys look great together!!!!!!!
the bagels look fresh and good…. looks like it came from Bunch-O-Bagel
i heard the private donor didnt just pledge but gave the money already
you are looking good…keep the smokeless fish coming
this is a positive thing, smoking is a bad habit
Zalman Trax! nice to see you in the hood!
I don’t smoke anymore but these people that scare tactics have never worked and never will, if someone doesn’t want to quit on his own he never will.