Today, Professor Chezi Levi, the Director of the Health Ministry, took umbrage at what the Vizhnitzer Rebbe said. Professor Levi said that such words should be rejected and  they are unacceptable - there should be enforcement. Levi said Corona doesn't differentiate between communities nor between this or that holy person - not Vizhnitz nor the sheikh of Majdal Shams - we cannot accept anarchy.

Tonight MK Yaakov Litzman (UTJ) criticized Levi saying a government clerk, no matter how important and high ranking he might be, has no right to speak out against holy instructions. MK Yaakov Tesler (UTJ) also spoke out against Levi but less harshly, protesting what was said and calling on Levi to retract his words.

Anyone and everyone has the right to speak out against the government decisions and guidelines. Calling for not following the rules, and for punishing those who want rules enforced, is some form of anarchy. No matter who it is coming from. the government does need to do better at figuring out where the spread happens and why, and be better about keeping dangerous places closed and safer places open, and finding ways to keep at least essential needs, such as education, religious services, businesses, etc, open in as safe a way as possible. Still, that does not give anyone the right to call for anarchy. And for members of the government to criticize the calls from within the government institutions to enforce is strange. And then the Haredi community will complain about the widening gap in Israeli society that is going to leave them far behind and punish them socially and economically in some way (weekend Hebrew magazines have had numerous articles analyzing this trend of the widening gap). This entire situation is crazy. Everybody says what they want and they all demand immunity - not just from the law but even from criticism (this is not unique to the Vizhnitzer Rebbe or other Chassidishe Rebbes - the courts, Justices and Justice Ministry officials - also bridle at criticism directed at them as do others.)

Anarchy, chaos, or as Pirkei Avos says when the government has no power, people will consume each other - society cannot function like this