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El Al Moves Quickly to Resolve Problem of Kohanim Flying to Israel with Niftarim Onboard

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(TJVNEWS.COM) A halachic matter that could directly kohanim and their ability to travel to Eretz Yisroel via the state’s national carrier, El Al Airlines, has now come to a resolution, according to a report on the Yeshiva World News web site.

The report indicated that the Misaskim organization has previously issued an advisory in which kohanim were warned of a handling change by the airline that would have invalidated a rabbinic heter (permission) which grants them the ability to fly on an Israel bound El Al plane transporting niftarim (deceased) out of JFK Airport in New York City. The advisory letter that Misaskim issued was done at the urging of the Karlsburger Rov, Rabbi Yechezkel Roth, as was reported by YWN.

YWN also reported that since that time, El Al has taken measures that will ultimately rectify the situation in several days.

On Wednesday night, Misaskim founder and director Rabbi Yanky Meyer was contacted by a high ranking El Al official who was completely unaware of the situation that affected kohanim, according to YWN.  Subsequently, the airline official launched an investigation of the matter which resulted in a determination that the policy change was not intentional. YWN reported that the airline’s supply of special boxes that were used to encase aronos (caskets) was temporarily depleted. It was this situation that caused the Karlsburger Rov to initially take back the heter that allowed kohanim to fly on El Al planes bound for Israel from New York that were carrying the remains of deceased individuals.

YWN has reported that El Al is expecting a new shipment of boxes to arrive within 24 hours and no niftarim will be transported out of JFK until after Shabbos. A second shipment of boxes is due to arrive next week and the airline will keep an emergency supply of approximately two dozen boxes in Misaskim’s warehouse in case any further shortages occur, according to the report.

“We are very grateful to El Al for its prompt response to this problem,” said Meyer. “It is clear that they take our community’s concerns very seriously and we look forward to a follow up meeting with them and Rabbi Roth next week to ensure that all of the relevant issues are being properly addressed.”

 

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