There is no problem for hospitals and hotels of individuals having chametz with them. It’s their problem. But the hosts don’t want their kosher-for-Pesach plates, cups, and cutlery compromised. That’s the only issue.
It’s illegal for hospitals to keep chametz out during Pesach is the High Court’s newest ruling. So, how are their kitchens supposed to preserve kosher-for-Pesach meals if breadcrumbs may get to plates of the host?
The Court’s ‘reasoning’ is too crazy for words. Religious Jews should rely on people who don’t keep from chametz on Pesach (Jews and Gentiles) that they will not have their chametz come into contact with hospital kosher-for-Pesach plates, cups, and cutlery? It is so unreasonable to expect, even from people who would be respectful of those who refrain from chametz.
Why not demand that the Rabbinate appoint Jews and Gentiles who don’t follow Jewish Law to be kashrut supervisors?
This ruling doesn’t damage Judaism. It damages the standing of the Court.
Such a ruling from outside of Israel, we’d call antisemitic lacking respect for religious the needs of the Jews. I don’t know what to call it here.
Any reasonable person understands that taking others (here: religious Jews) into account is not an infringement on one’s freedom but rather good manners and granting others their freedom. Apparently, the quintessential word here is reasonable. Gentile law is crazed about rights and doesn’t understand obligations. That’s why modern man is often so arrogant, self-centered, and spoiled. A historic new depth for the Court.
***
And now, the AG tells the High Court that he doesn’t see a problem with Benyamin Netanyahu leading the next government although he’s indicted.
But before the elections, the same AG insisted on indicting him and he refused to say if that meant he couldn’t be PM. So that Netanyahu had to run under a cloud of suspicion which, no doubt, cost him many votes.
How is this even fair and legal?
The generally excellent legal specialist of the Jerusalem Post (not to be confused with the respectable JPost of the past) even opined that the AG “is stamping out opposition from Yesh Atid and other opposition factions.” Did he get insane too? How is one obstructing the opposition if one simply allows the majority to rule against the wishes of the opposition?
In another piece, the legal reporter completely misses a correct prediction of what will happen next. His whole line of reasoning makes complete sense. So at least we know that it won’t go like that. How do I know? The Likud has threatened with new elections if the High Court interferes here. The judges will assert they might and show that none will intimidate them. They’ll look like crazy for alternatives how not to provoke a fourth election and still hurt Netanyahu. They can’t afford to let anyone walk over them.
Yesh Atid leader Lapid, never too tired to speak from both sides of his mouth, now appealed to the Court to stop Netanyahu. But he also wants to join Netanyahu to stop Gantz from becoming the second PM in a rotation deal because Gantz wouldn’t be suitable. But in the elections, he ran together with Gantz to oust Netanyahu and have Gantz be PM. Crazy is the new normal. And of course, then he goes on and calls us mad.
In case of a fourth election in a row, Gantz deserves a huge election victory because he shows excellent leadership now. He set aside narrow political interests for the national good of being as effective as possible against the coronavirus pandemic. Deserves, but would he get what’s fair?
MM is a prolific and creative writer and thinker, previously a daily blog contributor to the TOI. He often makes his readers laugh, mad, or assume he's nuts—close to perfect blogging. He's proud that his analytical short comments are removed both from left-wing and right-wing news sites. None of his content is generated by the new bore on the block, AI. *
As a frontier thinker, he sees things many don't yet. He's half a prophet. Half. Let's not exaggerate. Or not at all because he doesn't claim G^d talks to him. He gives him good ideas—that's all. MM doesn't believe that people observe and think in a vacuum. He, therefore, wanted a broad bio that readers interested can track a bit what (lack of) backgrounds, experiences, and educations contribute to his visions. *
This year, he will prioritize getting his unpublished books published rather than just blog posts. Of the 15 (!) books he has in mind, the next two are about homosexuality in Judaism and new rabbinics. Next year, he hopes to focus on activism against human extinction. To find less-recent posts on a subject XXX among his over 2600 archived ones, go to the right-top corner of a Times of Israel page, click on the search icon and search "zuiden, XXX". One can find a second, wilder blog that also may contain updates to Times of Israel posts, to which one may subscribe, here: https://mmvanzuiden.wordpress.com/ or by clicking on the globe icon next to his picture on top. *
He's getting ready to publicize books on: "Free Will, "Judaism and Homosexuality, "His parents in the Holocaust, "Judaism, "A New Torah Translation and "A New Hebrew Grammar, "Co-Counseling, "Vegan Facts, "Immortality, and more. *
Like most of his readers, he believes in being friendly, respectful, and loyal. However, if you think those are his absolute top priorities, you might end up disappointed. His first loyalty is to the truth. He agrees that in a post-truth world, that's irrelevant, but then this is for the record. He will try to stay within the limits of democratic and Jewish law, but he won't lie to support opinions or people when don't deserve that. (Yet, we all make honest mistakes, which is just fine and does not justify losing support.) He admits that he sometimes exaggerates to make a point, which could have him come across as nasty, while in actuality, he's quite a lovely person to interact with. He holds - how Dutch - that a strong opinion doesn't imply intolerance of other views. *
Sometimes he's misunderstood because his wide and diverse field of vision seldomly fits any specialist's box. But that's exactly what some love about him. He has written a lot about Psychology (including Sexuality and Abuse), Medicine (including physical immortality), Science (including basic statistics), Politics (Israel, the US, and the Netherlands, Activism - more than leftwing or rightwing, he hopes to highlight reality), Oppression and Liberation (intersectionally, for young people, the elderly, non-Whites, women, workers, Jews, LGBTQIA+, foreigners and anyone else who's dehumanized or exploited), Integrity, Philosophy, Jews (Judaism, Zionism, Holocaust and Jewish Liberation), the Climate Crisis, Ecology and Veganism, Affairs from the news, or the Torah Portion of the Week, or new insights that suddenly befell him. *
Chronologically, his most influential teachers are his parents, Nico (natan) van Zuiden and Betty (beisye) Nieweg, Wim Kan, Mozart, Harvey Jackins, Marshal Rosenberg, Reb Shlomo Carlebach, and, lehavdil bein chayim lechayim, Rabbi Dr. Natan Lopes Cardozo, Rav Zev Leff, and Rav Meir Lubin. This short list doesn't mean to disrespect others who taught him a lot or a little. One of his rabbis calls him Mr. Innovation [Ish haChidushim]. Yet, his originalities seem to root deeply in traditional Judaism, though they may grow in unexpected directions. In fact, he claims he's modernizing nothing. Rather, mainly basing himself on the basic Hebrew Torah text, he tries to rediscover classical Jewish thought almost lost in thousands of years of stifling Gentile domination and Jewish assimilation. (He pleads for a close reading of the Torah instead of going by rough assumptions of what it would probably mean and before fleeing to Commentaries.) This, in all aspects of life, but prominently in the areas of Free Will, Activism, Homosexuality for men, and Redemption. *
He hopes that his words will inspire and inform, and disturb the comfortable and comfort the disturbed. He aims to bring a fresh perspective rather than harp on the obvious and familiar. When he can, he loves to write encyclopedic overviews. He doesn't expect his readers to agree. Rather, original minds should be disputed. In short, his main political positions are among others: anti-Trumpism, for Zionism, Intersectionality, non-violence, anti those who abuse democratic liberties, anti the fake ME peace process, for original-Orthodoxy, pro-Science, pro-Free Will, anti-blaming-the-victim, and for down-to-earth, classical optimism, and happiness. Read his blog on how he attempts to bridge any tensions between those ideas or fields. *
He is a fetal survivor of the pharmaceutical industry (https://diethylstilbestrol.co.uk/studies/des-and-psychological-health/), born in 1953 to his parents who were Dutch-Jewish Holocaust survivors who met in the largest concentration camp in the Netherlands, Westerbork. He grew up a humble listener. It took him decades to become a speaker too, and decades more to admit to being a genius. But his humility was his to keep. And so was his honesty. Bullies and con artists almost instantaneously envy and hate him. He hopes to bring new things and not just preach to the choir. *
He holds a BA in medicine (University of Amsterdam) – is half a doctor. He practices Re-evaluation Co-counseling since 1977, is not an official teacher anymore, and became a friendly, powerful therapist. He became a social activist, became religious, made Aliyah, and raised three wonderful kids. Previously, for decades, he was known to the Jerusalem Post readers as a frequent letter writer. For a couple of years, he was active in hasbara to the Dutch-speaking public. He wrote an unpublished tome about Jewish Free Will. He's a strict vegan since 2008. He's an Orthodox Jew but not a rabbi. *
His writing has been made possible by an allowance for second-generation Holocaust survivors from the Netherlands. It has been his dream since he was 38 to try to make a difference by teaching through writing. He had three times 9-out-of-10 for Dutch at his high school finals but is spending his days communicating in English and Hebrew - how ironic. G-d must have a fine sense of humor. In case you wonder - yes, he is a bit dyslectic. If you're a native English speaker and wonder why you should read from people whose English is only their second language, consider the advantage of having an original peek outside of your cultural bubble. His posts are spell, grammar, and style polished by AI, but all written by himself. *
To send any personal reaction to him, scroll to the top of the blog post and click Contact Me. *
His newest books you may find here: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AMoshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&s=relevancerank&text=Moshe-Mordechai%2FMaurits+van+Zuiden&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1
