The Supreme Court ruled today (Sunday) that the introduction of chametz into Israeli hospitals during Passover should not be banned. Following this, the ultra-Orthodox Knesset members have already announced that they will promote bypass legislation on the subject. Nati Frank, head of the Religion and State Department of the Torah and Labor Trustees Movement, commented on Anat Davidov’s program on 103FM, who said that despite the long time between the various rulings, “the rabbinate rejected any compromise” offered to them. He was followed by MK Michael Malkieli from the Shas party, who said that “anyone who thinks he can force his opinion on the other side by High Court judges is wrong.” Malkieli further claimed that these are not seculars against the ultra-Orthodox but “secular people who are considerate against those who are not considerate.”
The High Court has finally ruled that the introduction of chametz into hospitals will be allowed on Passover, and the court will not allow the rabbinate to appeal this decision again. Let us remind you how we got here and what does this decision actually say?
“Today’s decision joins the original ruling given immediately after the previous Pesach. That is, it was given intentionally after the previous Pesach to allow at least ten months to reach a settlement. What President Hayut did today is simply to reject the request for further discussion, Finally, there is no new issue here, and there is no breach of the status quo, as the status quo is a matter of maintaining kosher status in restaurants and government institutions, and it is something that will still be preserved.The judges ‘ruling ruled that security guards could not rummage through visitors’ files. “Introduce pitas or breads, but also products that were simply not approved by the rabbinate. We offered compromises, but the rabbinate rejected any compromise.”
Hasharon Hospital in Petah Tikva (Photo: Ori, Wikipedia)What was your compromise?
“We suggested using disposable utensils, and at the same time making sure there were signs and designated places where it would be possible to store the chametz, and ask not to eat chametz in public areas, and be considerate. As we know to consider hospitals so elsewhere as well.”
Do you understand the anger of the ultra-Orthodox and traditionalists?
“I can understand the anger only because it is driven by the unconsciousness of reality. In the past we knew how to get along, but in recent years a new directive has begun directing hospitals to require security guards to look for remnants of products without the ‘kosher for Passover’ stamp.”
And what do you expect from the hospitals?
“Most of them understood that they could not carry out the rabbinate’s decision. Last Passover we had already seen that some hospitals no longer instructed security guards to do so, even though there were hospitals. They took care of chametz complexes, and found solutions. When you want, you can reach solutions.”
After Frank’s remarks, MK Michael Malkieli of the Shas party also appeared on the broadcast in order to comment on the ruling given today.
You do not like this decision?
“This decision joins a series of decisions that we would not have made, but a few things need to be put on the table: when trying to paint it as a new matter then it is not a new matter, and when trying to paint it as a simple and shallow fact of ‘rummaging through hospital visitors’ files’ then This is not the reality. We need to ask ourselves, and it is time we asked, whether we are a Jewish state or not. If we are a Jewish state we need to ask ourselves how much we want Judaism to be expressed in public in the State of Israel, this is also a question that needs to be asked. I like this expression, but if the secular side thinks it knows how to tattoo the status quo, then gentlemen, it is impossible to incite from the agenda that in the last 40 years no religious or ultra-Orthodox law has been enacted here unless the High Court forced the ultra-Orthodox parties Do it. We never tried to get legislation in the Knesset, because we knew how to live with the non-religious public in the belief that it is called the status quo, which is an unwritten but binding treaty. Anyone who thinks he can force his opinion on the other side by High Court judges is wrong.
Why do you think so? After all, secularists feel the exact opposite.
“Do you know how many things I as a religious person swallow and absorb? We understand that we do not live alone in this country, and we want to live together.”
But no one is forcing anything on you. I, for example, am forced not to ride the bus on Saturday.
“This is coercion because when I am a religious person, I want to go to a public hospital funded by my and your tax money, I do not want there to be bread on the table next to me during Passover. What is more I am sure most of the secular public in Israel does not eat chametz on Passover, and I Surely there are other people who do not want a table next to them for a person to sit and eat pita on Passover. It is very respectful to go to the High Court and issue a ruling, very very respectful. Do not portray it as secular against ultra-Orthodox. It is a secular that is considerate against those who are not.