By COLlive reporter
Last Friday blistering snowstorm derailed the plans of Shomer Shabbos travelers as flights were delayed and airports shut in in eastern cities like New York.
El Al flight from Tel Aviv, originally scheduled for a pre-dawn landing of 5:00 AM, was late in arriving by nearly 8 and a half hours landing at 1:20 PM, putting the frum passengers at risk of not making it to their destination by Shabbos.
Enter the Misaskim organization which made special arrangements for a detail of U.S. Immigration and Customs officials to help speed the passengers through the Newark terminal.
They arranged for a detail of 13 extra agents who were able to process 371 passengers in record time, enabling all of them to reach their destinations before Shabbos.
One of the agents even walked around the baggage carousel asking if there was anyone who was a Shabbos observer and needed help, COLlive was told.
In another scenario, a Jewish family from Brazil were stranded in Pittsburgh where a JFK-bound flight was diverted due to the storm. Flight personnel would not let the family leave the airport.
Misaskim intervened for permission to leave and set them up at the home of R’ Duvy Nadoff, a Lubavitcher in Pittsburgh whose hosted them for Shabbos until Sunday.
“The Nadoffs treated the stranded travelers like family, even giving them a tour of the city on Motzoei Shabbos,” Misaskim noted, about the visiting family’s experience before finally able to connect to their original New York destination.
A third crisis happened in Detroit, where a JFK-bound flight from Los Angeles was diverted and its with passengers, including some frum Jews, were not allowed to deplane.
While the plane ultimately landed at 3:20 PM, it had to wait for a gate assignment until 8:00 PM, well past the start of Shabbos.
Misaskim contacted the Far Rockaway-based Achiezer organization who was able to arrange for delivery of the food. Non Jewish employees of Misaskim delivered a refrigerator, as well as pillows blankets.
Misaskim officials said that the organization had long since established contingency plans for such an eventuality. Its close contacts with law enforcement officials enabled the Jews arriving from Israel to avoid chillul Shabbos. Similarly, its ability to reach out to resources in the community came in handy for some of the other stranded passengers on the snowy Friday.
Mi K’amcha YISROEL !!!!!!!!!!!
Ad Mosai !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, Dovi and Fraidy Nadoff are essentially the perfect example of what all Hassidim should be, following in the footsteps of their parents, Rabbi Benyamin and Mrs Miriam Nadoff-pillars of the Pittsburgh Jewish community and mashpiim to so many!!
Yes–this is what they do all the time….real Lubavitchers at heart!! (even tho’ Dovie may deny this!)
Moshiach would be here if we were all like them!
A pgh friend
Bubby Miriam and Zaidy Nadoff AH really showed Pittsburgh how true chesed is done. there kids all over the world continue there legacy. As a Lubavitcher that spent time on Pittsburg the Nadoffs showed true chesed wether your were lubavitch litvish satmar or not frum at all. Dovy thanks for keeping on the Nadoff pride
Levi
Amazing people amazing Mishpocha! They are true Dugma Chaya of how we need to be. Your an inspiration to all of us! May Hashem bless you with health, Nachas, wealth, happiness and Arichus Yomim Vshonim Tovim!
Feigelstock’s
Los Angeles
Worlds best friend!! Our great uncle!! No surprise:)
If Dovy knew who wrote this, he would have my head. He is a clone of Avraham Avenu; I’ve never seen anyone who excels in the mitzvah of Hachnasas Orchim and Tzorchei Tzibur to the degree that he and his rebbetzin do. Dovy and Freidy ARE Pittsburgh. Great story.
Its Dovy not Duvy and not exactly a Lubavitcher but a good friend of Lubavitch
I am forever grateful to very kind family, Duvy Nadoff, for being the greatest hosts to myself and a couple other bochurim for a year! They literally treated use like family, wonderful ppl.
Yosef Muchnik
True Chessed, is to feel the concern and pain of a fellow Jew, help them out and not for anything in return.
This is exactly how Misaskim does their noble work. They are praiseworthy for their continued ambition to search out ways to expand their function of Gomlei Chessed beyond serving the needs of a family who has just lost a loved one.
You inspire us all and we are certainly grateful..
שכרכם הרבה מאוד
great people