During a news conference on Monday to update the public on developments regarding the virus in Israel, Deputy Health Minister Yakov Litzman, a fervently Orthodox Jew, said that Israel will use the term "Mexican flu" rather than "swine flu" to refer to the virus. Swine, or pigs, are not kosher.
And what do his country men and women think about this? Here are just two reactions on the JTA website (The Global News Service of the Jewish People):
On 04/27/09 08:52 AM, Shelhevet wrote -
Mr. Litzman’s insistence to call the virus “Mexican” flu is one of the MOST racist things I have heard in regards to this outbreak. The virus comes from Swine, which exist on this earth regardless of whether or not Jews eat them. For goodness sake, this man is in charge of the health of our country???? I doubt he is qualified.
On 04/29/09 04:42 AM, Maljut wrote -
I completely agree with Shelhevet. This behavior of generalizing and tagging people is going to come around and bite us back. It is totally unacceptable!
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