Knesset Minister Resigned from Coalition Over Debate about Chametz

 

The political upheaval in Israel this week revolved around a debate over chametz on Pesach. On a broader level, the Minister who resigned from PM Bennett’s coalition was protesting the leftist takeover of the government, which is spreading secularism and crushing traditional Jewish values.

Right-wing Minister Idit Silman resigned from the coalition and joined Likud, based on her belief that a “national, Jewish and Zionist government” should be in charge.

This defection comes after she criticized leftist health minister Nitzan Horowitz, for lifting a ban on chametz in hospitals during Pesach (apparently in accordance with a supreme court ruling.)

At a Knessest meeting, Ms. Silman expressed her anger saying: “People in the Holocaust fasted on Passover so as not to eat chametz, and a minister in the State of Israel within a coalition like ours, unfortunately, intends to introduce chametz. The people of Israel have certain values that entire generations have died over, and we in the current government will not be part of their overthrow and we must respect the public.”

Yearly Debate

It is an annual tradition in Israel, leading up to Pesach, to argue over the ban on bringing chametz, into public places. Even non-Charedi right-wingers believe that chametz should be banned to maintain the Jewish character.

For years, some hospitals have prohibited chametz, with bags checked by guards when people enter. Army bases have imposed similar rules.

However in 2020, the High Court issued an extreme ruling, saying that hospital guards cannot search the belongings of visitors, prevent them from bringing in food that isn’t kosher for Pesach, or discuss the matter in any way.

Charedi Knesset members staunchly opposed that decision, and the Rabbanut said the ruling may lead to frum Jews avoiding hospitals on Pesach and endanger their health.

While the chametz debate is ongoing, the broader issue at stake is whether to allow the secularists to erase the observance of traditional Jewish values, or impose rules that encourage people to respect the religion, since after all, Israel is a Jewish country, and Judaism is, first and foremost, a religion.

Amazingly, this hot-button issue may bring down the current government.