The New Law Banning Bread in Hospitals on Pesach

I have mixed feelings about this. Not that I disagree with the law. But because of the timing and a history of negative perceptions about Charedi politicians. From i24 News:

The Knesset (Israeli parliament) passed a law on Tuesday allowing hospitals to ban all foods containing hametz (sourdough), during the holiday of Pesach (Jewish Passover). 

Proposed by the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, the law allows hospitals to ban products to all visitors and staff, including those who are not Jewish. 

The new law requires the hospital director to "take into consideration the rights and needs of patients" before making such a decision. It also requires the hospital's website to mention the new law, as well as having signs within the building itself, so that hospital employees and patients are kept informed of the situation.  

I consider this a reasonable law for a number of reasons. First, because it gives a hospital the choice (but – If I understand correctly -  does not force any hospital) to ban Chametz on Pesach, an important Mitzvah in the Torah for Jewish owned establishments. 2^nd because it also allows for exceptions in the case of patient need. Which I assume is based on health requirements - another important Mitzvah in the Torah.  3^rd There will be ample advance notice given to hospital staff and visitors.posted on signs and on their website  And 4^th banning bread or bread products in a hospital for a grand total of 7 days per year does not sound like much of a hardship. 

Which brings me to another news story that is quite troubling. Instead of respecting the rights of others, one group insist that their own rights come first. And they are going to do something about it. From Arutz Sheva:

A group of left-wing activists who organized protests against the now-frozen judicial reforms have vowed to bring hametz (leavened bread products) into hospitals on Passover to protest the passage of the 'Hametz Law' on Tuesday… 

…during Passover, our people, as well as thousands from the general public, will bring hametz into the hospitals in a variety of ways, take pictures and upload them to social networks," they stated.

 Their hatred of Neatanyahu and Charedim  is palpable:

 "The trembling tyrant and his draft evaders have now sneakily passed in the third reading the law prohibiting the bringing of hametz into hospitals on Passover," attacked the organizers.

This sickening display of hatred exposes the level of the division between secular (and some Dati Leumi) Israelis on the one hand - and Charedim on the other.

That said, I’m pretty sure these people are not from the mainstream. If I understand correctly most Israelis are traditional enough not to eat Chametz on Pesach. But not this ‘charming’ crowd. They could not care less about any form of Judaism that includes Halacha. And they are going to do everything in their powerto make sure of that their country has nothing to do with that. Any attempt along those lines will be fought vigorously. As this threat by them indicates

Why is this so? Why the strident pushback?  Here’s what I think. There is a long history of Charedi violence in pursuit of extremist religious objectives. Many of which have been discussed and condemned here. 

These Israelis believe that the new power given to Charedi politicians by virtue of the last election will only encourage more of the same. That this law is only the beginning of a slippery slope down the path of a religious theocracy akin to Iran. And they are not going to let it gain any traction. 

That a reasonable law like this is getting such pushback is the fault of Charedi policians who represent a constituency seen by much of the non Charedi public as draft dodges that do not contribute to the economy. And instead take from it to support a lifestyle that they neither understand nor approve of. 

Whether this is n accurate description or not is almost beside the point.This is their perception. and it is not an unreasonable one for those who lack the education to fully understand and appreciate these - their fellow Jews.

Charedi lawmakers might have been able to pass such legislation in the past without too much pushback. Although the current Israeli Supreme Court might have ruled it an ‘unconstitutional’ denial of secular rights. Not sure.

But whether that would have happened or not - after a heated debate over judicial reform that for weeks brought hundreds of thousands of protesters into the streets - a reaction like like this should not be all that unexpected – evil tough it maybe from a religious perspective.

I suppose that Charedi politicians feel that they must ‘strike while the iron is hot’. Meaning that as long as they have the power to do it now, they might as well take advantage of it. But they seem to have forgotten the words of our sages (Tamid - 32a): Eizehu Chacham? HaRoeh Es HaNolad. Who is the wise man? He who foresees the consequences of their actions.  

How sad it is that we have come to unholy acts in this – our holy land.