Yaakov Litzman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Yaakov Litzman
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg) |
|
| 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 in 1948) is an Israeli politician. He used to be a government minister. He is a member of the Ger Hasidic Jewish group. He led a political party called Agudat Yisrael, which is part of the United Torah Judaism group in the Knesset. The Knesset is like Israel's parliament. He served as the Minister of Health and the Minister of Housing and Construction. He was a Member of Knesset from 1999 to 2022.
Contents
About Yaakov Litzman
Yaakov Litzman was born in Germany in 1948. His parents were survivors of the Holocaust from Poland. When he was two years old, his family moved to the United States. They lived in Brooklyn, New York.
In 1966, when he was 17, he moved to Israel. He continued his religious studies there. Yaakov Litzman is married and has five children. He lives in Jerusalem, Israel.
Early Career and Education
Yaakov Litzman's first job was as a principal. He led a girls' school in Jerusalem called Beis Yaakov. This school was for Hasidic Jewish girls.
Political Journey
Yaakov Litzman started his political work with the help of a spiritual leader. This leader was Rabbi Simcha Binem Alter. Litzman became known as a close helper to the Rabbi. He continued this role with the current Rabbi, Yaakov Arye Alter.
Before becoming a Member of Knesset, Litzman worked as an assistant. He helped the Deputy Minister of Labor and Social Welfare. He also advised another Member of Knesset.
Joining the Knesset
In 1999, Yaakov 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 main law-making body. After being elected, he became the head of the Finance Committee.
From 2001 to 2003, and again from 2005 to 2007, he led the Knesset Finance Committee. During this time, he helped create several new laws. One law helped special cultural and educational places. Another law made it so religious buildings did not have to pay certain fees.
Becoming a Government Minister
In 2009, Litzman was the top person on his party's list for elections. After being elected, he became the Deputy Minister of Health.
In 2015, he returned as Deputy Minister of Health. Later that year, a court ruled that he should be a full minister. So, his party allowed him to become the Minister of Health.
In 2017, Litzman left the government. This was because Israel Railways continued to work on Shabbat (the Jewish day of rest). In 2018, he returned as Deputy Minister of Health. He became the full 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 announced he would retire from politics. He later resigned from the Knesset in June 2022.
Work as Health Minister
As Minister of Health, Yaakov 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.
Litzman often made surprise visits to hospitals. He wanted to check how well they were working. He would look at the conditions and how patients were treated. In one visit, he stayed with an elderly man until the hospital staff helped him.
During his time, mental health services were changed. They were moved from clinics to health funds. He also worked to allow discount food stores in hospital cafeterias.
Health Campaigns and Policies
In 2016, Litzman started a campaign against unhealthy food. He used McDonald's as an example. McDonald's said they had already been making their food healthier.
During a measles outbreak in 2018, Litzman strongly supported vaccines. He called them very important for stopping dangerous diseases. He also said that parents who do not vaccinate their children should face consequences. This was especially true before children went to school.
When the coronavirus pandemic started in 2020, Litzman supported social distancing. He also said wearing masks was important. He stated that masks help protect people and stop the virus from spreading.
He was the first Israeli elected official to get COVID-19. He also supported the use of COVID-19 vaccines.
Images for kids
-
Litzman in 2010
See also
In Spanish: Yaakov Litzman para niños
