Small Rooms, Big Secrets: Why is Israel Obsessed with Cabinets?

The קבינט חברתי כלכלי, the קבינט הקורונה, the קבינט מדיני ביטחוני... since when is the State of Israel managed by cabinets?

In the חוק יסוד הממשלה, it is written: "The Government may appoint permanent, temporary, or specific-matter ministerial committees; once a committee is appointed, the Government may act through it" (Section 31e). However, Israeli governments appoint "cabinets" that have no mention in the law.

And what even is a "קבינט"? The word קבינט came to us from French via English. Its meaning in French is a "small cabin," essentially a "closet" or "small room." In European languages, a קבינט is also a piece of furniture for a small room.

The קבינט and its furniture were used by nobles to keep jewelry and valuables, and therefore it was the owner's most private room. In the sixteenth century, the King of Britain also had a קבינט, and there he convened a limited circle of his confidants and consulted with them on matters of state. This is how the word gained the meaning of "the king's advisors." Later, the advisors became ministers in the government. Within the government, there was a circle of senior ministers, those "who see the king's face," in his קבינט.

This is how the word קבינט received the meaning of a ministerial committee for important matters. In the Dictionary of Diplomatic Terms of the האקדמיה ללשון העברית from the year תשנ"ט (1999), the term קבינט was also included with the meaning "a team of senior ministers."

But in the spirit of בן־יהודה, it would be better if the Israeli government appointed Hebrew ministerial committees rather than foreign cabinets.