Health Minister Yaakov Litzman on Memorial Day represented the government in an official ceremony in Kiryat Gat. He laid a wreath as is expected of a minister, but then stopped and recited Tehillim.
He stated “We stand here together, citizens of Israel, shrouded in mourning, bowing our heads before the bereaved families and unite around their memoires, those in the various services whom have fallen. Dear families, mothers, fathers, daughters, sons, sisters and brothers, grandparents, relative and friends. Together with you, we remember our sons and daughters who fell for the existence and continuation of the state.
“Bereaved families, you are not alone. The bereavement and a bereaved nation stands behind you. I have not come to console you, as we are all aware the words have not yet been created to heal the pain of loss of one close to use. In addition, the statements of consultation for this bereavement haven’t yet been created. I have come to strengthen and support you, to join you during this time of remembering and I have come for all of those, those of us who live here, for our joined future in our land…”
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
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2 Responses
Kiddush has-em
His words may have been meaningful to the mourners but there is no heter to risk one’s life for anything for Zionism, and hearing this from a Rabbi makes this all the more distasteful.
In addition, wreaths are, of course, well-rooted in various forms of Avoda Zara, like Paganism, Christianity, et al.
I would think this easily qualifies as a chilul Hashem, but it’s definitely NOT a Kiddush Hashem.