Social Smoke
Ease of use with friends makes hookah smoking more popular
Amanda Junk
Every nation between India and Egypt has a cultural tradition of social smoking, Blackwell said.
"Smoking hookah in the Middle East is like going to Starbucks [in America]," he said. "Everyone: Young adults, elders and entire families use the hookah as a social bonding event."
Though smoking hookah is not addictive, it's prohibited to people younger than 18 in America because it involves use of a tobacco product, Blackwell said.
While Blackwell said he understood the historical and sociological rationale behind hookah smoking, he did not advocate smoking of any kind.
"Any kind of smoking is more dangerous to you and others than not smoking at all," he said. "But just because my students smoke does not mean that I don't love them any less. People are always more important than a belief."
Hillel Secretary Ben Goldenberg owns a hookah and has been smoking from it since he was a junior in high school.
"It's a very smooth smoke, very unlike a cigarette," he said. "People are always surprised that they can taste the flavors of the tobacco. It's really relaxing."
At Khoury's Mediterranean Restaurant, most customers who come in for hookah nights are between ages 18 and 23, Wing said, although some older people who smoked hookah while growing up in the Middle East also participate.
Goldenberg said he hoped students will come to Hillel's Hookah Night to socialize, but also to learn about a culture that is relatively unknown in the United States.
"It's something almost everyone of college age in Israel does," he said.
"Smoking hookah in the Middle East is like going to Starbucks [in America]," he said. "Everyone: Young adults, elders and entire families use the hookah as a social bonding event."
Though smoking hookah is not addictive, it's prohibited to people younger than 18 in America because it involves use of a tobacco product, Blackwell said.
While Blackwell said he understood the historical and sociological rationale behind hookah smoking, he did not advocate smoking of any kind.
"Any kind of smoking is more dangerous to you and others than not smoking at all," he said. "But just because my students smoke does not mean that I don't love them any less. People are always more important than a belief."
Hillel Secretary Ben Goldenberg owns a hookah and has been smoking from it since he was a junior in high school.
"It's a very smooth smoke, very unlike a cigarette," he said. "People are always surprised that they can taste the flavors of the tobacco. It's really relaxing."
At Khoury's Mediterranean Restaurant, most customers who come in for hookah nights are between ages 18 and 23, Wing said, although some older people who smoked hookah while growing up in the Middle East also participate.
Goldenberg said he hoped students will come to Hillel's Hookah Night to socialize, but also to learn about a culture that is relatively unknown in the United States.
"It's something almost everyone of college age in Israel does," he said.
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