Is it permissible to roll cigarettes on Yom Tov?

Greetings,

There is a dispute among the great authorities regarding whether it is permissible to stick the cigarette paper with saliva on Yom Tov. The opinion of most poskim is lenient in this regard—if it is impossible to roll the cigarette before Yom Tov for any reason (such as to avoid ruining the flavor). However, if it is possible to roll the cigarette before Yom Tov, it is not permitted to roll it on Yom Tov.

Of course, all of this applies according to those who hold that it is permissible to smoke on Yom Tov even today, but as is known, many poskim prohibit smoking on Yom Tov.

Sources: In the Responsa Lechayim, part 2 (section 100), the opinion is to prohibit this. See there. And in the Responsa She'elah u'Teshuvah, part 1 (section 178), it is written that on the first day of Yom Tov, it is prohibited to stick the paper of the cigarettes with saliva due to the prohibition of 'makeh b'patish' (finalizing a product), but on the second day, it requires further analysis. See there.

However, in the Responsa Alef Lecha Shlomo (section 338), his opinion is to permit wrapping the paper on Yom Tov even if it was possible to do so before Yom Tov, as this does not fall under the name of labor at all. And this seems to be the opinion of the Maharshal in Da'at Torah (section 771, paragraph 4, beginning with 'V'asu't').

In the Responsa Rav Pe'alim, part 2 (section 69), his opinion is to permit sticking the paper with saliva because it cannot be done before Yom Tov, as the glue exists only temporarily, and if it is made before Yom Tov, the paper comes undone and the substance spills out. See there for further details, as the opinion of the Pri Megadim (section 620, in the Aseh Avraham section 4) also seems to concur. This is also the view of the Kaf Hachaim (section 771, subparagraph 37). And so it is agreed in the Responsa Shemesh u'Magen, part 2 (section 56). Additionally, this appears to be the opinion of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, zt”l, in his book Halichot Olam, part 2 (pages 16-17). See also in his book Chazon Ovadia on Yom Tov (pages 47-48).

Best regards,

Hillel Meirs