Manhigut Yehudit against amending the Chametz Law

In recent years, the courts have redefined what is considered a "public place" and have allowed businesses to sell chametz, claiming them to be private and not included in the law. Shas has been working to amend the law that prohibits the sale of chametz on Pesach in public areas to include any business.

Manhigut Yehudit has always repeated that they are not in favor of a halachic state, nor do they support "religious legislation".

In light of Shas' efforts to amend the chametz law, Manhigut Yehudit has released the following statement.

Feiglin Urges Choice as Knesset Examines Leavened Products Law

December 28, 2009...

After religiously observant Israeli Knesset Members proposed legislation to expand the enforcement of the law banning chametz (leavened products) during the Passover holiday in Israel, secularist lawmakers from the Labor party announced Thursday that they will bring legislation to cancel the National Chametz Law altogether. Moshe Feiglin is opposed to legislating religious issues, the chametz law included. Forcing people to comply with Torah law is more likely to encourage violation than willing adherence.

In most towns and villages in Israel, people are in favor of maintaining the Jewish atmosphere of their communities and do not sell or eat chametz in public on Passover as a matter of choice. Manhigut Yehudit is opposed to a coercive ban on chametz in the relatively few places in Israel where the communities prefer to publicly sell those products. Manhigut Yehudit is confident that a non-coercive environment in Israel will encourage non-observant Israelis to connect to their heritage in an open and positive manner.