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Israel - Litzman Vetoes Moving Ancient Graves to Build Barzilai Hospital Shelter |
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Barzilai Hospital Shelter
"I will not allow graves to be moved in Israel, nor will the Chief Rabbinate allow it," Litzman said at a meeting of the Knesset's Labor, Welfare and Health Committee. "I suggest building [the safe facility] in the parking lot."
Litzman promised to find the money for the extra costs that would involve.
The discussion had been initiated by Robert Ilatov of Yisrael Beiteinu, who threatened that a delay could spark a coalition crisis.
"We have a coalition agreement on this matter, stating that construction would start immediately," Ilatov said. "We have a responsibility toward half a million people who receive treatment at Barzilai. There is money. There is a plan. All that's needed is to start construction."
And to move the graves, which is the problem.
Barzilai is within the range of rockets fired from the Gaza Strip. Though, as Ilatov said, there is a plan to build a construct that would protect patients from rockets, the snag is that the chosen site proved to house human remains.
Ultra-Orthodox politicians firmly oppose moving them, for fear of disrespecting the dead.
The sheltered facility is supposed to be a big one, with 22,000 square meters including operating theaters, a children's ward and an emergency room, and capacity for 250 patients. Its construction will cost an estimated $34 million, which has already been secured through government funding and private donations.
Preliminary work began in 2008, but was halted when the remains were found. Since then, battle has been waged over whether to build the facility as planned, or at a new site, such as the parking lot.
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Read Comments (11) — Post Yours »
1
Jun 02, 2009 at 10:55 PM David Says:
So, instead of respectfully moving the already deceased, we risk adding to them by delaying the construction of a badly needed hospital shelter? Where's the logic in that?
2
Jun 02, 2009 at 10:38 PM Anonymous Says:
Farfalen, we need our agents in the Kanesat. We must be kanuim with common sense.
3
Jun 02, 2009 at 11:40 PM Milhouse Says:
“ So, instead of respectfully moving the already deceased, we risk adding to them by delaying the construction of a badly needed hospital shelter? Where's the logic in that? ”
The logic is that the poskim whom R Litzman consulted are just as capable as you of considering this, and they ruled that it should not be done. I imagine their logic is that there's no reason the shelter can't be built elsewhere just as quickly, and there's no reason it couldn't already have been built by now, if only the chilonim were willing to spend the extra money. It's their budget concerns that's endangering people, not the rabbonim's concern for the meisim. They want to save money on the meisim's cheshbon. What right do we have to move a meis, unless we have reason to believe he approves? Do you think these meisim will approve being moved just to save the government some money?
4
Jun 03, 2009 at 02:13 AM YtzchokAizik Says:
that's weird. I don't remember him being so harsh when they removed the graves in Gush Katif - and these for sure were jewish.
5
Jun 03, 2009 at 01:31 AM PulpitRabbi Says:
Sometimes, one wonders where these guys get their common sense. ס'איז דא א פיפטע שולחן ערוך, you have to pick your battles and know when exception are warranted. In an ideal world, they would reinforce the hospital without moving the remains, even at great expense. However, changing the plans now would delay securing the hospital by many months. If chas veshalom anything happens to a patient, don't you think that the meisim will have anything but nachas ruach from having been left in peace?
6
Jun 03, 2009 at 12:31 AM shelpshitz Says:
“ So, instead of respectfully moving the already deceased, we risk adding to them by delaying the construction of a badly needed hospital shelter? Where's the logic in that? ”
Logic?? Its the holucha . And besides would you let them remove the remains of one of your family members? And btw. Those ppl resting there all paid money for that 6x4 piece of land and no one has the rite to take that away
7
Jun 03, 2009 at 06:58 AM yidel Says:
“ that's weird. I don't remember him being so harsh when they removed the graves in Gush Katif - and these for sure were jewish. ”
he wasn't such a "kanoie" either in the Jerusalem election when he and the rest of Gur supported an outright "mechalel Shabbos" for mayor over the religious Mayer Porush.
8
Jun 03, 2009 at 07:41 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Sometimes, one wonders where these guys get their common sense. ס'איז דא א פיפטע שולחן ערוך, you have to pick your battles and know when exception are warranted. In an ideal world, they would reinforce the hospital without moving the remains, even at great expense. However, changing the plans now would delay securing the hospital by many months. If chas veshalom anything happens to a patient, don't you think that the meisim will have anything but nachas ruach from having been left in peace? ”
It's quite the opposite, if they delay the completion of the hospital it would be more meisim.
9
Jun 03, 2009 at 08:10 AM Anonymous Says:
“ The logic is that the poskim whom R Litzman consulted are just as capable as you of considering this, and they ruled that it should not be done. I imagine their logic is that there's no reason the shelter can't be built elsewhere just as quickly, and there's no reason it couldn't already have been built by now, if only the chilonim were willing to spend the extra money. It's their budget concerns that's endangering people, not the rabbonim's concern for the meisim. They want to save money on the meisim's cheshbon. What right do we have to move a meis, unless we have reason to believe he approves? Do you think these meisim will approve being moved just to save the government some money? ”
These graves should have been moved. When Litzman was appointed to head the health ministry, many of us expected that public health and saftey decisions would be subordinated to his religious views and he would take his marching orders from the rabbonim. Our worst fears are now validated. Maybe, chas va'shalom, you and your family will have a health emergency during a terrorist attach while visiting Ashkelon and when you arrive at the hospital emergency room, they will point you to the parking lot where the new facilities will get built someday thanks to Rav Litzman and the political hacks (aka poskim) he "consulted" in reaching his decision.
10
Jun 03, 2009 at 12:49 PM joeshmoe Says:
hey guys he's offering an alternative. what's the problem with you? everything jewish is just too unbearable? he even said that he would find the extra funding needed for building in the parking lot! perhaps they could build a parking lot building to have room for the cars! the only place these bastards can build the building is in the cemetery? Sure as hell smells like rotten fish!
11
Jun 03, 2009 at 12:38 PM AH Says:
“ These graves should have been moved. When Litzman was appointed to head the health ministry, many of us expected that public health and saftey decisions would be subordinated to his religious views and he would take his marching orders from the rabbonim. Our worst fears are now validated. Maybe, chas va'shalom, you and your family will have a health emergency during a terrorist attach while visiting Ashkelon and when you arrive at the hospital emergency room, they will point you to the parking lot where the new facilities will get built someday thanks to Rav Litzman and the political hacks (aka poskim) he "consulted" in reaching his decision. ”
"Our worst fears are now validated"!? What, your worst fear is that a minister in a Jewish state is trying to follow halachah?
First of all, as Milhouse rightly pointed out, if the new wing can be built just as quickly without disturbing the graves, then of course that should be done, and your snark about "political hacks" is completely unwarranted. But second, it's my understanding that halachah doesn't set aside kavod hameis where the benefit to the living is not immediate; it's the same principle by which autopsies on Jewish corpses are not permitted, even though the knowledge gained thereby might be used to save someone's life in the future. And yes, this is a question for a qualified posek, not for a government minister, and certainly not for an anonymous commenter on a news site.