EL AL Begins Torah in 770

By COLlive reporter
Photos by Moishy Lew

A delegation from El Al Airlines, headed by CEO Eliezer Shkedi, visited Lubavitch Headquarters in Crown Heights Monday, where they began the writing of a specially commissioned “unity Torah.”

EL AL felt it imperative that Chabad play a leading role in a Torah symbolizing the unity of all Jews, we were told, so they reached out to Vice Chair of Merkos L’inyonei Chinuch Rabbi Moshe Kotlarsky.

The globe-trotting Rabbi Kotlarsky was out of the country this week (attending a Chabad function in The Congo) and had a delegation welcome the executives of the flagship airline carrier of Israel.

Following a tour of the Jewish Children’s Museum, the guests gathered in the Rebbe’s room in 770 Eastern Parkway where they were joined by members of the Rebbe’s secretariat Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, Rabbi Leibel Groner and Rabbi Binyomin Klein.

Representing Rabbi Kotlarsky and Merkos were Rabbi Mendel Kotlarsky, Rabbi Zev Katz, Rabbi Efraim Mintz and Rabbi Dubi Rabinovich.

Participants then took turns writing letters in the historic Torah scroll, carefully guided by the sofer Rabbi Faitel Lewin.

They later headed back to the museum’s conference room where they dined with best selling author Rabbi Simon Jacobson, Tzivos Hashem Executive Director Rabbi Yerachmiel Benjaminson and others.

Shkedi, former Commander in Chief of the Israeli Air Force, spoke of his fondness for Chabad on a personal and professional level.

“Chabad is always there wherever EL AL travels,” he said. “But what I love most about Chabad is their care and concern not just for the entire jewish nation, but for each individual.”

After exchanging gifts, a video of the Rebbe’s meeting with former EL AL director in New York David Shein was screened, in which the Rebbe directs him to place a pushka on every plane.

The EL AL delegation proudly noted that they continue to follow the Rebbe’s directive until today.