A controversy erupted at Ichilov Hospital after bacon was deliberately placed on hospital dishes as part of a protest over food-ordering machines in the maternity wards that are not operated on Shabbos, prompting the hospital to discard the affected dishes over kashrus concerns.
Left-wing activist Naor Narkis posted footage showing bacon being served on a plate belonging to Ichilov Hospital. He said the act was intended to protest the hospital’s policy regarding newly installed food machines in the maternity wards, which are shut down on Shabbos while officials work on an appropriate halachic solution for their use.
Because the bacon had been placed directly on hospital dishes, the incident immediately raised questions regarding their kashrus. Responding to an inquiry from Arutz Sheva-Israel National News, Ichilov said that any dishes suspected of having been compromised were thrown away and would not be returned to use.
Narkis claimed that in the maternity ward, “they starve the mothers on Shabbos and shut down all the food machines.” He said that as a result, one woman who had recently given birth asked her husband to order bacon, which was then served on dishes belonging to the hospital.
“Don’t mess with secular women after childbirth. And enough with the religious coercion that has crossed every line,” Narkis wrote alongside the footage he published.
Ichilov Medical Center strongly disputed the suggestion that women in its maternity wards are left without food on Shabbos.
Hospital officials explained that the machines are being introduced as part of a new pilot program in the maternity wards, designed to give patients and their families greater flexibility by allowing them to obtain meals on their own schedules.
“Until a halakhic solution is found for kosher use of the machines on Shabbos, the machines do not operate on Shabbos, and food is brought out of the kitchen and distributed by the staff as usual, in accordance with the rules of kashrut and as is customary in all departments,” Ichilov stated.
The hospital emphasized that shutting down the machines does not mean that mothers are deprived of meals during Shabbos.
“The claim that women who have given birth do not receive food during Shabbos is, of course, completely baseless.”
Ichilov also confirmed that the dishes involved in the bacon incident were permanently removed from service because of the resulting kashrus concerns.
“The dishes suspected of having had their kosher status compromised by the woman and her family were thrown away and will not be used again.”
The hospital said it remains committed to developing arrangements that will allow it to provide quality food service to patients from across the population, while accommodating the necessary kashrus requirements. It added that it “and expects everyone to act with mutual respect.”
