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• Bnei Brak declares war on Purim's first-time smokers 

Bnei Brak municipality is launching a campaign Thursday under the banner "Torah Sages Against Smoking," in which pamphlets with strictures against smoking from leading rabbis will be circulated and street posters put up. The campaign will emphasize in particular the dangers of "the first cigarette."

With the coming of the Hebrew month of Adar, ultra-Orthodox youngsters in Bnei Brak have been rejoicing in line with Jewish custom. But the revelry has exposed a far less happy problem for the city's ultra-Orthodox leaders - for many youngsters the Purim celebrations draw them into smoking their first cigarette. . . .

The custom that it is permissible to do almost anything on Purim is what leads Haredi youngsters to take their first drag on the holiday,

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