Though smoking cigarettes is not a healthy or appealing habit, there are a number of Jewish Young Adults, both in the States and abroad, who smoke regularly or socially. Of those that smoke, there is an undeniable preference amongst JYAs for Parliament Lights.
JYA Regina Spektor reminisces about smoking Parliaments in her song “That Time.” While Ms. Spektor certainly has her individualist quirks, this places her squarely in the fold of the JYA community. Most JYAs probably smoke their first cigarette in High School or College, and 87.3% of the time, that introductory cigarette will be a Parliament light. Shaken from a blue and white pack with a distinctive recessed paper filter, this cigarette inspires a brand loyalty that spreads like viral marketing through the JYA community creating a bond that will last until the Jewish Elder the JYA has since become ceases smoking or dies.
If you have never encountered a Parliament cigarette, you can be sure to spot dozens at any Alpha Epsilon Pi gathering where they will be chain-smoked by girls standing next to the pony keg of Pabst Blue Ribbon who “only smoke when I’m drinking or stressed” neglecting to add that drinking and stress are daily occurrences. The parking lots of High Schools in New Jersey and Long Island are also a fruitful hunting ground, as are weddings in Israel for cousins of varying degrees of familial connection.
There are many theories as to why JYA smokers prefer Parliaments over other cigarettes. One possible speculation is that JYAs enjoy disassociating from the mainstream in general, and therefore would inherently choose a more exclusive brand of cigarettes than the garden variety, and best selling, Marlboro Lights. Secondly, JYAs frequently harbor feelings of superiority over their Non-Jewish peers, and therefore would be subconsciously attracted to the seeming exclusivity of the name “Parliament”. One theorist has even postulated that JYAs prefer smoking Parliaments because of their Blue and White packaging, in subconscious solidarity with the State of Israel.
Whatever the reasons, the propensity of JYAs to spark up a Parliament Light as opposed to any other brand of cigarette is readily observable, and merits further academic inquiry. For now we will have to rely only on anecdotal evidence.
(another JYA social smoker)
Weird, I always thought of Parliaments as “Asian girl” cigarettes. I had no idea they were big in the semitic community. Interesting!
I always thought that Parliament Lights 100 was the choice of young gay men (like myself).
Apparently Jewish Young Adults, Gay Men, and Asian Girls, have one thing in common!
People smoke whatever they want to smoke. You cant identify a group of people from all over the world (not just US) to like only 1 brand of cigs…..
Unless of course you are a Young Gay Asian Jewish Girl
I thought they were smoked by hipster in the Mission/Silverlake/Williamsburg?
my israeli family (and most israelis i know, actually) are very partial to Camel brand cigs. marlboro is the 2nd choice.
filthy habit, though.
I’m a Jew and I smoke parliament lights – but that’s only ’cause my friend got me hooked. My friend is a “young bisexual girl living in Asia”. lol! and that’s the truth!
Well she’s not Asian but she is living in Asia.
So yeah to sum it up! Rofl!
Parliament Lights are smoked by:
1. Young Jewish Guys
2. Young Bi Girls living in Asia of European Descent ~ this just keep getting weirder and weirder! …So add that to the list, and pass the lighter while you’re at it!
Oh and of course don’t smoke it’s bad for your health!
…now where’d I put my smokes?? *scratches head*
yaaah
[...] punctuate his utterances with the jab of a cigarette. I bought the mildest cigarettes I could find, Parliament Lights, and I still couldn’t inhale, an act guaranteed to induce not only the old dizziness but now [...]
Parliament Lights are very popular in Israel, and unfortunately many JYA’s pick up this habit on birthright.
I’m a young jewish guy, and I refuse to smoke anything but black market Marlboro reds smuggled from Lebanon. Does the money go to Hezbollah? Probably. It’s worth it though, because they are unlike any other cigarette anywhere
You want to know why JYAs and other girls in New York and New Jersey smoke Parliaments? It’s the recessed filter. We know the recessed filter is one of the best lipstick blotters on the market. Meaning, it helps remove excess lipstick from our lips without wearing the lipstick off as is the case with other full-filter cigs.
Fact.
I’m jew and smoke parliament aqua blue because those have nasty flavor and good consequence to myself (lehaim)
new parliament is not good ..wiy ?