Yaakov Litzman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yaakov Litzman
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יַעֲקֹב לִיצְמָן
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| Ministerial roles | |
| 2015–2017 | Minister of Health |
| 2019–2020 | Minister of Health |
| 2020–2021 | Minister of Housing & Construction |
| Faction represented in the Knesset | |
| 1999–2005 | United Torah Judaism |
| 2005–2006 | Agudat Yisrael |
| 2006–2008 | United Torah Judaism |
| 2008–2009 | Agudat Yisrael |
| 2009–2021 | United Torah Judaism |
| 2021–2022 | United Torah Judaism |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 September 1948 Allied-occupied Germany |
Yaakov Noach Litzman (Hebrew: יַעֲקֹב נָח לִיצְמָן; born 2 September 1948) is an Israeli former politician. He was a government minister. He followed the Ger Hasidic group. He led the Agudat Yisrael party, which is part of the United Torah Judaism group, in the Knesset. He used to be the Minister of Health. He also served as the Minister of Housing and Construction. He was a Member of Knesset from 1999 until 2022.
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About Yaakov Litzman
Yaakov Litzman was born in a camp for people who had to leave their homes. This was in Allied-occupied Germany. His parents were Lithuanian Jewish people who survived the Holocaust. When he was two years old, his family moved to the United States. They lived in Brooklyn.
In 1966, when he was 17, he moved to Israel. This move is called aliyah. He continued his religious studies there. Litzman is married and has five children. He lives in Jerusalem.
Early Career
Litzman's first job was as a principal. He led a Hasidic girls' school called Beis Yaakov in Jerusalem.
Political Journey
Starting in Politics
Litzman became involved in politics with help from the Gerrer Rebbe. A Rebbe is a spiritual leader in Hasidic Judaism. Litzman became known as a close helper to the Rebbe. He continued this role with the current Gerrer Rebbe.
Before becoming a Member of Knesset, Litzman worked as an assistant. He helped the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Welfare until 1989. He also advised another Member of Knesset.
Serving in the Knesset
In 1999, Litzman joined the Agudat Yisrael party. This party was part of the United Torah Judaism group. He was elected to the Knesset, which is Israel's parliament. He became the Chairman of the Finance Committee. This committee deals with money matters for the government.
He led the Knesset Finance Committee from 2001 to 2003. He also led it again from 2005 to 2007. During this time, he helped create several laws. One law helped unique cultural and educational places. Another law helped religious buildings like synagogues and mosques. It made them not have to pay certain fees.
Joining the Government
In 2009, Litzman was first on his party's list for elections. After being elected, he became the Deputy Minister of Health. A deputy minister helps the main minister.
In 2015, he returned as Deputy Minister of Health. Later that year, he was appointed as the full Minister of Health. This was an important step.
In 2017, Litzman left the government. He did this because Israel Railways continued working on Shabbat. Shabbat is a day of rest in Judaism. In 2018, he returned to his role as Deputy Minister of Health. He officially became Minister of Health again in 2019.
In 2020, he asked to become the Minister of Construction and Housing. He was appointed to this role. In 2021, Litzman said he would retire from politics. He did not run in the next elections. In June 2022, he resigned from the Knesset.
As Minister of Health
As Minister of Health, Litzman made several changes.
- In 2016, he ordered that fluoride be added back to Israel's drinking water. He said this was important for dental health.
- He also brought back free dental care for children. He expanded dental coverage for more people.
- Litzman believed that patients should be declared dead only when their heart stops beating.
- He approved ways to help fund invitro-fertilization (IVF). This made it easier for people to get egg donors.
- Litzman often made surprise visits to hospitals. He wanted to check how well they were working. He also wanted to see their conditions. Once, he stayed with a 100-year-old man in a hospital. He waited until the staff treated him.
- During his time, mental health benefits were moved. They went from clinics to health funds.
- In 2016, he announced changes for hospital cafeterias. This allowed discount food stores to open in hospitals.
- He started a campaign against unhealthy food. He also campaigned against tobacco.
- During the 2018 measles outbreak, Litzman strongly supported vaccines. He called them very important for preventing diseases. He also said that parents who do not vaccinate their children should face measures.
When the coronavirus pandemic started in 2020, Litzman supported social distancing. He also supported wearing masks. He said masks were important for protecting people and stopping the virus. He also supported the use of COVID-19 vaccines.
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See also
In Spanish: Yaakov Litzman para niños
