By COLlive reporter
Tensions were riding high on Monday in the first Delta Airlines flight from New York to Tel Aviv since Israel has eased Covid pandemic restrictions.
Even before it took off, a secular Israeli man seated in the back seats began screaming at Chabad Yeshiva bochurim for not social distancing from each other.
“You aren’t keeping two meters away from each other!” the man protested.
The bochurim commented that they been spending the entire month together in the same pod-like space.
“Get out of here!” was the man’s reply and the bochurim kept silent, allowing for the situation to deescalate.
Towards the end of the flight, Chabad photographer Chaim Tuito went to the back of the plane for a drink and was verbally attacked by the same Israeli man.
When a flight attendant told Tuito, “stay calm, don’t reply or give him attention,” the man had an outburst.
“I will murder you in the airport,” he threatened. “Just wait, I will bust you up.” He then tried to physically attack Tuito but flight attendants were able to intervene and stop him.
The woman traveling with the man was not feeling well at one point and he used the opportunity to accuse the Chassidim: “You took control of this flight. She fainted because of you because you are crowded.”
Tuito, who stressed that he and his friends have been wearing facemasks throughout the flight, said he did not press charges. “It’s crazy how far the fruits of the Israeli media’s incitement against the frum public…”
You did good controlling yourself. Something that is difficult to do for many!
Be nice to him regardless, he’ll come around!
What a wacko!!!!!! Very difficult to be stuck on a plane with a threat. I hope he is banned from flying in the future.
its an obligation to press charges. its against halacha not to press charges
the airline didn’t arrest the person upon landing like so many others who create uncontrolled disturbances in flight…
There is no such thing as a secular Jew.
Last I checked, we are all Jews. Period.
Maybe the man had personal experiences with Covid which were difficult.
Don’t judge.
Just behave like a mentch, and don’t worry about the rest.
Would “non-religious” work better for you?
Unfortunately there is a lot of bad press due to Chabad bochurim and other Haredim who are forging negative COVID tests in order to get on flights. Just yesterday a flight with 11 COVID-positive people landed in Israel. (These individuals were overheard bragging about their forged tests, and were indeed positive for COVID when they were tested upon landing in Ben Gurion).
This kind of behavior ruins things for everyone, and invites/incites hatred.
I had personal experience with being around people, traveling, busses trains, they pick & choose who they want to start up with. if you act tough & dont stand for garbage this would never happened. In this story why didn’t the guy threaten others TSA or security….????? The answer is very simple, With out (me) being there he picked & chose who to start up with. ITS A MENTAL DISEASE!!!!!! I know what I’m saying. I’ve been through it with others.. all of the sudden when they finally realize they are in trouble these people try to make more trouble… Read more »
This coward would never dare to open his mouth to Black Lives Matter, protesters.
This probably has nothing to do with the fact that they don’t weak masks or are coming fake covid test papers. It’s very important to always assume that you are never responsible for how people think of you and always blame it on them.