Israel – On Wednesday, history was made in the Knesset when MK Yaakov Litzman was sworn in as Minister of Health, making him the first Charedi Ashkenazi Jew to hold a minister’s position in the Israeli government since 1952.
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Litzman, chairman of Agudath Israel, was confirmed following an 83-10 vote, but his appointment was not without opposition.
Facing a decades-old policy that prevents Haredis from serving as minister without fully accepting the legitimacy of a non-religious Jewish state, the title of Deputy Minister has been traditionally been attached to those serving in government.
Historically, Haredi deputy ministers operated essentially as ministers and without anyone bearing that title above them.
But in Litzman’s case, a motion was filed before the High Court by secularists Yesh Atid insisting that Litzaman either take the full title of minister or withdraw his name.
After upholding the motion, the High Court presented Litzman with the option, but UTJ’s Council of Torah Sages of Agudath Israel intervened and made an allowance for Litzman to become a full-fledged minister.
MK Merav Michaeli said in response to Litzman’s swearing in, “The appointment of Minister Litzman shows good progress of good governance and in the religious parties. I only wish that this progress will continue and that the next Knesset will step up and consider more Askenazi candidates”
Yesh Atid’s MK Ofer Shelah said in response to his party’s opposition of Litzman, “We are gathered to celebrate the obvious, that authority includes formal acceptance of responsibility, and self-evident that the role of the minister is similar to the position of Deputy Minister. So we went to court.”
Thanks to Yesh Atid, the govt now has to fork over a higher (minister’s) salary to a guy who was willing to take a lower (deputy minister’s) salary.
why do ostensibly frum people give legitimacy to a state that tortures Jews and allows Jewish women to have children named Mohamed?
Did he swear? On a Tanach?
Another great Chilul Hashem when the world sees a frumer Yid is part of the government.
First Ashkenazi minister? The term simply means European Jew.
What everyone seems to ignore is that he was approved 83-10, that is an incredibly high approval rating.
So, for all the morons who insist that he was doing a lousy job, it seems that people who have actually seen him in action fervently disagree with you.
No wonder Yesh Atid is gaining support across the spectrum. Call Chareidim on it when they make a mockery of the Kneset, make them play by the rules and everyone wins. Yair Lapid is right about the army and working as well. His plan had Chareidi men serving for six months and then being allowed to hold legitimate jobs. Very reasonable. Who was opposed? You guessed it.
The Report is inaccurate. Reb Biyamin Mintz, who was a Charedi Ashkenazi Jew from Poalei Agudath Israel held a minister’s position in the Israeli government throughout the 1950s (so that he could help the PAI Mosdot and klal Yisroe)l .and several Charedi Ashkenazi Jews from Mizrachi were ministers even decades later.