Three Heavy Smokers Quit Together and Rediscover Life Without Cigarettes

Three Israeli men share their personal journeys of overcoming long-term heavy smoking through the Allen Carr method, highlighting the psychological shift that enabled them to quit. Jonathan Mor Yosef, 37, began smoking during his yeshiva years and hid his habit from students while teaching. After more than 20 years, he finally committed to quitting after hearing about the Allen Carr method on the radio. He describes the relief of no longer needing to sneak out to smoke during breaks and how his breathing and energy improved almost immediately.

Yitzhak R., 29, a father of four, smoked a pack a day since age 16 and had resigned himself to being a smoker. Encouraged by a friend who successfully quit with the same method, he joined the workshop skeptically, fearing he would lose the pleasures associated with smoking. He realized the cigarette never truly provided the benefits he imagined, and quitting did not diminish his personality or enjoyment of life.

Yosef Ganam started smoking very young and became a heavy smoker in yeshiva. His wife urged him to quit, but he waited for a sudden "magic moment" to stop. Instead, the Allen Carr workshop helped him gradually understand that smoking did not help him in any way. The final moment of extinguishing his last cigarette was emotional, symbolizing freedom rather than loss.

Etgar Komshitzky, sales manager of Allen Carr Israel and former heavy smoker himself, explains that their method focuses on removing the psychological dependence on cigarettes rather than just the physical act. The approach avoids scare tactics and instead dismantles the smoker’s belief that cigarettes provide real benefits. The method has helped over 50 million people worldwide, including thousands in Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community, with workshops tailored to their lifestyle.

The three men emphasize that quitting smoking did not change who they are or their daily routines. Coffee, meals, social interactions, and work remained the same; only the need to smoke disappeared. Their stories illustrate how breaking free from smoking is less about sacrifice and more about reclaiming life without cigarettes.