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Israir Welcomes the Sky-Torah

Amidst great joy and celebration, hundreds of people gathered at JFK International Airport in New York today to welcome a new Torah scroll.

Israir’s new Torah, called the Sky-Torah, was greeted under a “Chuppah”- a traditional Jewish wedding canopy, and was carried amidst throngs of children joyously dancing to live music. Children and adults alike were delighted to touch and kiss the new Sefer Torah, as it was lovingly transported on its way to Israel.

More pictures in the Extended Article!

The procession ended with a moving ceremony, dedicating the Torah to the memory of those who died defending Israel, and honoring the soldiers still in captivity. Speakers included Rabbi Nissim Elmaliach, Rabbi of Ben Gurion Airport, Rabbi Shneur Z. Wolowik, of Chabad of the Five Towns, Rabbi Pinchas Althaus, Rabbi of Israir Airlines, and Rabbi Moshe Elefant, of the OU. The ceremony concluded with prayers for the safety of the State of Israel, and the safety of the Israeli soldiers on the front lines.

The Torah was completed in Aventura, Florida, by Rabbi Shlomo Elharar, Chief Rabbi of Colombia, and was escorted to New York by Rabbi Nissim Elmaliach, Rabbi of Ben Gurion Airport, and Mr. Stuart Katz, Director of Israir in the U.S.

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11 Comments

  • Chanan

    Does someone know the background to the story? Why was the Sefer Torah flown to Israel? (I mean since there are Soferim in Israel too)
    Thanks and Gut Shabbos
    H

  • ISchier

    Hate to be a cynic, but this is simply an attempt by Israir to cash in on any possible El Al boycott by certain rabbis and communities. Israir also flies on Shabbos; it is no better or no worse than El Al.

  • R.O

    Wow, how incredible,that must have really been a kidush Hashem!!!!
    couldn’t they give the Torah to some Shliach or Torah organisation that does not have any? does not seem to be a shortage of Torah scrolls or Sofrim in Israel!!!!
    Isn’t ISRAIR the company that declared bankrupsy?????
    anyway, regarless, it wars the heart to see things like this!Yosher koach.
    BY the way the sign that said“Torah Bashamayim Hi” is a cute line,
    the reason the Passuk wrote that the Torah is not in the heavens, the commentaries point out that the heavens symbolize loftiness and the Torah To us should not remain lofty (In Shamayim) it should be down here and tangeable to all jews.havw a gutte voch and an easy fast

  • ISchier

    R.O.:

    Israir did not declare bankruptcy. It’s a relatively new firm. You must be thinking of the late Tower Air.

  • Shomer Shabbos

    The Rebbe was a pioneer in the area of Shmiras Shabbos as witnessed with the Israeli boat line Zim. The Rebbe opposed the use of Zim because they were mechalel Shabbos.

    People who wanted to fly on motzoei Shabbos on an El Al flight that was serviced during Shabbos were discouraged to do so by the Rebbe.

    It is unfortunate that a Lubavitcher yungerman is helping an airline (Israir) that is baltantly mechalel Shabbos every Shabbos in Israel with flights to and from Elat and more.

    Especially when the entire frum velt is trying to get El Al to be Shomer Shabbos. Now is not the time to support a blatant mechalel shabbos airline.

  • proud mom

    In response to Chanan, the Sefer Torah is to remain on the airplane for Minyanim on flights to Israel, get it?

    My son goes to Oholei Torah and his class was privileged to go and be a part of this celebration.