Passover: Soldiers clash over poor food display

Recruit in Negev base tries to take food from fridge against orders, becomes involved in scuffle with cook. IDF: There's no shortage of food

Yoav Zitun|Published: 03.26.13 , 20:03

Passover's kashrut laws lead to army scuffle: A new recruit at an IDF base in the Negev confronted a cook in protest of the small amount of food served in the base due to Passover-related regulations.

Before long the altercation turned physical. Eye witnesses said that the scuffle also involved several at one point.

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However, a senior figure at the base said no one else was involved in the scuffle but the soldier and the cook.

The unusual event occurred at a Combat Intelligence Collection school after a group of recruits expressed their frustration at the small amount of food on offer when the kitchen was in the process of being made kosher for Passover.

One of the soldiers entered the kitchen with the intent of taking food for himself and for his friends. A kitchen attendant who noticed him ordered him to leave and the two soon started exchanging punches.

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said in response, "There is absolutely no shortage of food at the base and no soldier has ever gone hungry. As per General Staff orders, the IDF goes through a comprehensive process of preparations ahead of Passover."

The IDF's kashrut regulations lead to the disposal of a considerable amount of food every year and soldiers are instructed to refrain from bringing bread and other hametz products into the bases.

Since army kitchens go through the process of becoming kosher for Passover, the amount and variety of food is reduced in the days before the holiday.

"There is no reason why in the days prior to the holiday, after grueling training, we don't at least get warm and nutritious food," one soldier told Ynet. "We complained to the commanders that other than some cold pastrami we don't get much to eat for lunch."