Deputy Minister of Health Yaakov Litzman is one who lives his principles and once again he got up and left an event when a female vocalist performed, returning after she was done. This is not the first time he has done so, repeatedly telling the media he will live in accordance to his views, and he simply is not moved by the response of the media or anyone else for that matter.
He was attending an even in the National Convention Center in Yerushalayim, and the deputy minister addressed the audience at the start of the event. When a female choir got up to perform, he and Bnei Brak Mayor Asher Weiss both walked out and returned following that performance.
In an official statement released by Litzman’s staff, it was explained that he was compelled to leave the event numerous times to address urgent issues connected to nursing strikes.
The statement continued, explaining “In principle, Litzman does not remain in events involving female vocalists in line with his hashkafa. The deputy minister is not involved in the actual performance and as such, his departure is his own decision and he is not compelled to apologize but quite the contrary, he calls on others to respect one who lives by his beliefs.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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8 Responses
1. It would only have been news if he didn’t walk out.
2. Did the sponsor of the event have any reason to assume there would be Jews in attendance. If so, the scheduling of a female vocalist was a deliberate provocation.
NO APOLOGIES NEEDED. A REAL MENTSCH.
Kol Hakavod, I am sure he stood up silently and left the room with much attention. Respect is an essential midah in fostering relationships.
Good. He did the right thing. It would have been a chillul for him to stay.
“In an official statement released by Litzman’s staff, it was explained that he was compelled to leave the event numerous times to address urgent issues connected to nursing strikes.”
The event program was no secret and he didn’t have to go at all, and a substitute could have handled his duty; but I believe he wanted to make a point. Perhaps frum officials should seek out such events to attend and to leave when the vocals are performed. Eventually, it may stop such programming.
I assume you mean Frum Jews, not Jews.
What’s the chiddush…we all do this, no?
#5 You have made a good point, a substitute could have been sent.
AND if he decided to sit there with earplugs, that is OK also.