Some 80 Torah observant people landed several minutes before Shabbos Parshas Vayechi in the Ben Gurion International Airport in Lod, Israel.
Their Swiss Air flight was meant to depart on Friday morning from Zurich, but was delayed, leaving frum passengers immensely worried about desecrating the Shabbos.
But when they landed – very close to Shabbat- there was a whole operation in place to assist them.
Passengers with young children were taken to the nearby Kfar Chabad village, where they were graciously hosted by local Lubavitchers.
The others were cared for by the ZAKA humanitarian volunteer organization, who are regularly seen at disaster zones.
They coordinated rooms for sleeping and eating in the airport thanks to the airport Rabbi Nissim Elimaliach and the El Al Rabbi Yochanan Chayut.
Hatzvi bakery in Bnei Brak donated Challahs and other baked good, Shtisel catering donated food for the 3 Shabbos meals, and the Municipality of Petach Tikvah lent mattresses and blankets.
“It was a very inspirational Shabbos,” said Berele Yaakobovitch, a ZAKA volunteer who spent Shabbos at the airport, told COLlive.com. “Everyone sat together around the tables and sang Zmiros while curious people stood around watching.”
really amazing for them to do =)
As i said Before watch what you say!
11, you liberal! you worry too much about the feelings of sinners
god has feelings too
yes, but the flight left Zurich late. They knew it was tight. The El al flight left on time. I was in it.
The flight from Zurich (which I happan to know they flew from) to El-Al airport is only about 3 1/2 – 4 hours.
I always schedule long distance trips for another weekday, especially if traveling to Israel or Europe. Unforeseen delays can occur especially if traveling by airplane.
Be careful and let not be judgmental. So now because they took an airplane on Friday their frumkite is in doubt? The article made it clear that their plane was scheduled for the friday morning. How could they knew in advance that sof kol sof the plane will be delayed till late in the afternoon? Nobody can know for sure. Moreover, it may be that friday was the only day available to have their flight to Eretz Yisroel. So, I second #5: lighten up!! seriously…
they were travelling on friday? it could very well have been a thursday evening flight that kept getting delayed…….. a little don lekaf zechus maybe?
Things like that happen, you never know what could happen, Hashem has his ways! so stop with the senseless comments and think about what you write before you write it as the saying goes “Before you say what you think, THINK” so please do and watch what you say it can really hurt people’s feelings!
koolz nice to see the achdus in klal yisroel
I thought that you a report coming out of C.H. would know better than to write about “frum” Jews. The main thing (the only thing, really) is that JEWS were able to observe Shabbos.
I have been to Ben gourion so many times and its so cool to see all thise small side rooms
to #5, don’t tell him to lighten up.
Messing with shabbos is no joke, okay, so don’t go telling people who take shabbos seriously to “chil out.” your playing with fire
This is not a one time event, it happens over and over and we never learn. Just look at the accidents on Route 17 in the Catskills in the hours before shabbos. This should be a reminder to plan in advance and not just get in the car and go and rely on miracles. Dont travel on Friday!
This is the very reason why the Rebbe advised that one should not plan their travels for a Friday.
Wise man. We should all listen to his advice and teachings. And maybe we wouldn’t come to sin.Chas V’sholom.
no really this is not the first time something like this happens keep to halacha no chumras minhagim frumer then though and less situations like this would happen….
lighten up!! seriously…
very unfortunate for them and their families but if they r frum they should know we try not to travel on friday even with the time differece ahead 7 hours u have to always count delay time .bh they did not have to desecrate shabbos
What a display of Achdus. It’s great to hear news like that. It shows what we can accomplish if we work with each other instead of arguing for noth.
Why is Achdus and VeOhavto Lereacho Kamocho is eaiser in such situations? It’s all the time we should be “KeIsh Echod B’Lev Echod”