Left-wing activist Naor Narkis published footage showing bacon placed on a plate belonging to Ichilov Hospital, in protest over new food-ordering machines in the maternity wards that do not operate on Shabbat (the Jewish Sabbath).
The use of bacon on hospital dishes raised a kashrut issue, and in response to an inquiry by Arutz Sheva - Israel National News, Ichilov clarified that any dishes suspected of having had their kosher status compromised were discarded and would not be used again.
Narkis claimed that in the maternity ward, "they starve the mothers on Shabbat and shut down all the food machines." According to him, one woman who had given birth consequently decided to have her husband order bacon and serve it on hospital plates.
"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 rejected the claim that women in the maternity wards do not receive food on Shabbat.
The hospital explained that the machines are part of a new pilot program in its maternity wards intended to allow patients and their families to obtain meals themselves at a time convenient for them.
"Until a halakhic (pertaining to Jewish law - ed.) solution is found for kosher use of the machines on Shabbat, the machines do not operate on Shabbat, 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 stressed, "The claim that women who have given birth do not receive food during Shabbat is, of course, completely baseless."
"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."
Ichilov also added that it is working to find solutions that will provide high-quality food for all populations, "and expects everyone to act with mutual respect."