The Chief Rabbinate of Israel Council has suggested limiting the chametz ban in the nation’s hospitals to facilitate conditions for non-Jewish patients and Jews uninterested in conforming with halacha, Walla News reports. The council decided to permit a segregated area in a hospital that would not be kosher for Pesach.

The council is faced with yet another challenge to halacha, as it appears the total ban on chametz in the nation’s hospitals on Pesach may be challenged in the Supreme Court. Attorney Harel Goldberg, the Chief Rabbinate’s legal counsel explained to the rabbonim that he does not believe the total ban that exists today would stand up to a High Court challenge, hence the decision to amend the long-standing Pesach ban on chametz.

The Chief Rabbinate Council has requested the ministry weigh the decision to permit a having a segregated chametz area in hospital this Pesach.

Interestingly, the Health Ministry has expressed opposition to the move. Rabbi Pinchas Frenkel, the Health Ministry’s expert on matters of halacha expressed strong opposition to the council’s decision. He feels it is preferable to let the current ban on chametz remain, without any exceptions.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)