At first I thought the call was a prank.
The caller identified himself as a reporter for the Associated Press. He asked if it would be all right for a TV crew to come meet with me immediately and do an interview that would be sent to all their national affiliates. Timing was crucial, he said. The story was breaking just now and it was headline news. They really needed a rabbi for background information.
“What's it all about?” I innocently asked.
“Didn't you hear?” the reporter breathlessly responded. “A plane has been diverted on its flight from LaGuardia Airport due to a possible terrorist attack from a Jewish passenger.”
Okay, I said to myself, what's the punchline? I know that flying isn't as safe as it used to be. I'm well aware of the shoe bomber and the underwear bomber but without overstepping the boundaries of political correctness I realized I was missing a piece of vital information when the caller suggested that there was threat of a terrorist attack from one of our people. A Jew threatening to bring down a plane? I knew in my gut that couldn't be true.
Sure enough, it was a false alarm. The passenger who gave the crew a fright was indeed Jewish. In fact it was a young man who was religiously observant. But it turned out no one really had any reason to be afraid. The teenager only wanted to recite his morning prayers while wearing the required tefillin, the biblically commanded boxes to be placed on the arm and the head - known in English as phylacteries. The first is bound round the arm seven times to indicate devotion to God for all the days of the week and then around the fingers in a manner that spells out one of the names of the Almighty. The other, on the head, is a symbol of our willingness to subject our minds to the will of the one above us.
For someone who's never seen these religious items they can certainly appear strange. To the stewardess who alerted the captain to these foreign objects, with their unrecognizable black boxes and their unusual attached strings, they represented a potential danger strong enough to warrant the plane making a forced landing in Philadelphia to be welcomed by FBI agents, the police and the fire department.
Remarkably enough on a flight from New York City, one of the major Jewish population centers in the world, not one person on board had ever seen tefillin, or could vouch for their authenticity as a mitzvah rather than a menace!
So the Associated Press came to ask me about this ritual which I explained has been around for more than 3000 years. While the Pilgrim fathers who were all extremely conversant with the Bible would surely have known the meaning and the makeup of these phylacteries, meant to afford a measure of spiritual protection to its wearers, our contemporary guardians of national security unfortunately had no idea of this Torah law. At least, I thought to myself, the one good thing to come out of this unfortunate incident that inconvenienced unwary passengers and temporarily mistook a pious Jew for a terrorist was the God-given opportunity to explain a mitzvah to a national audience on TV.
Yet in retrospect I can't help but reflect on the irony that of all ritual objects it was tefillin that caused the crew to suspect a threat that would endanger the lives of innocent people. After all, it is this very mitzvah that on a more profound level speaks to the issue that represents the greatest challenge today to the civilized world.
The tefillin is a ritual item comprised of two parts. In its own way it symbolically says that our devotion to God consists of a dual commitment. It is an idea that has a remarkable precedent in the 10 Commandments when God gave the fundamental moral laws for all mankind not on one but on two separate tablets.
Why were these laws not written on one and the same tablet? Surely it was not for considerations of space. God could have made one tablet large enough to contain all 172 words of the Decalogue. The reason, as explained by the rabbis, is that this allowed God to introduce what many theologians have called perhaps the most important idea promulgated by Judaism, the most powerful innovation in the realm of religious thought. Religion, this division of the tablets means to teach us, is concerned not only with the way in which mankind is meant to relate to God but also the way in which people are meant to treat each other.
There are two tablets with five Commandments on each. The first five reflect upon our duties to God, the last five concern themselves with proper behavior towards our fellow man. And it is both of these categories that are indivisibly included when we speak of religion!
It was Cotton Mather, the famous Puritan preacher of colonial American times, who put it well when he once pithily said, “Woe unto those who pray unto the Lord on Sundays and prey on their fellow man throughout the rest of the week.” What was the source of his insight? The very point we see so clearly embedded in the structure of the 10 Commandments inscribed by God on the two different tablets of stone.
To accept only one of these categories as the definition of our striving for spiritual perfection is to be guilty of nothing less than religious schizophrenia.
As many contemporary theologians and philosophers have pointed out, the greatest danger to Western civilization today comes from those who in the name of God are willing to murder innocents, and to use suicide bombers as missiles to massacre civilians in a perverted attempt to glorify the Almighty.
The two tablets stand as irrefutable testaments to the sacredness of both God and man, the Creator and his creations, the One in the heavens above and all those representing his divine image below.
And where else other than in the two tablets is this message repeated, indeed on a daily basis? Of course in the very mitzvah of tefillin. The box to be placed on our head symbolizes our aspirations to be connected with the one above. It corresponds to the first tablet and all of its injunctions relating to our responsibilities to God. The box we are taught to place on our arm with the strings wound round our hand remind us to reach out to others, to fulfill all those religious obligations that mark our humanity in our relationships with others. It is the symbolic link to the message of the second tablet which is just as important in the eyes of Law Giver of Sinai.
“When do Jews put on these tefillin?” the interviewer asked me. I explained that whenever Jews recite morning prayers every weekday we need to remind ourselves of the two messages of the tablets. We speak to God and don the little box we put on our heads remind us that He exists, that He runs the world, and that He must be acknowledged and worshiped. But even as we do so we emphasize with a box on our hands that true service of God includes reaching out to all of His children. It reaffirms our commitment never to do anything to harm fellow human beings with the absurd rationalization that our intent is solely to glorify God. It is the combination of these two that define us. Respect for God and concern for His children are the hallmarks of Judaism. Which is why no Jew true to his name and his mission could ever be guilty of endangering the lives of innocents in the name of his religious beliefs.
With perhaps a hidden touch of heavenly humor , the plane with the teenager on board whose tefillin terrified the security personnel was diverted to, of all places, Philadelphia. The nickname of that city, based on the Greek root of the word, is “the city of brotherly love.” How appropriate in a way that the end of this story was at a metropolis whose very identity is synonymous with the goal of the mitzvah that caused all the misunderstanding. After all, brotherly love is the divine purpose behind the law of the phylacteries which the young man attempted so scrupulously to fulfill. And far from being a cause for concern isn't it true that if tefillin and its message were properly understood and practiced, it would make the threat of terrorism and suicide bombers a universally longed-for impossibility?
(59) Anonymous, March 15, 2011 1:44 AM
learning
Hi, I am not Jewish, but rather came to this site to learn what the "black straps and boxes" were that caused a plane to land again today and Jews to be escorted off. Unfortunately, many folks are like me and would have no clue what the men were doing and most wouldn't bother to increase their knowledge as I have today. Before coming to the site, I was struggling with why the men would perform such a religious ritual on a plane. I would think they had to know it might cause a stir. No one should be ashamed to practice their religion, but it just seems that we should think about the time and place and how it might cause unnecessary (and unintended) distress for others. God hears all prayers, including those said quietly in the heart. Thank you.
(58) Feigele, January 31, 2010 4:59 PM
A box is a Box!
We all live in a time of terrorism and should not forget it especially when traveling. What prevents terrorists from using the Tefillins as weapons knowing that they represent religious objects that are permitted in planes. Given the fact that they are checked and scanned at the airport security, nonetheless, they might represent a hazardous threat in the hands of the wrong people who would not hesitate to use anything to further their goal. Even if there were Jewish people in this plane, they would not get involved, not knowing that person who could just be anyone. Maybe they could explain what Tefillins are but how could they explain who that person was.
(57) David, January 30, 2010 10:58 AM
The Pilot acted correctly
Obviously the tfillin passed through the TSA check point. They knew what tfillin are. It was a commuter plane, a small regional carrier, with staffing that are usually younger and certainly less experienced that the mqajors. When the stew got worried, the pilots on the small plane cannot leave his seat and investigate, he/she must take prudent action, and fast, I don't understand why we (Jews) are so surprised that someone does not know what these objects are??? Do most Jews know the difference between the Rosary and Islamic worry beads are? I don't. The pilot had to make aq decision and erred on the conservative side. Bravo for him.
(56) Robert Jacobs, January 29, 2010 4:43 PM
We Jews Are Responsible For Others' Reactions
First thing I thought when seeing this article was very simple: Did the young man think to tell the steward/stewardess that he was going to be praying? Did he inform them of the tefillin he was going to wear? Considering the high state of anxiety with which the flying public and authorities have regarding anything unusual in the airport or on the plane, we have a responsibility as considerate citizens and individuals to understand that many people have no idea what tefillin are or why or when they might be worn. Although the young man in question perhaps did not understand this, we should all learn from his mistake and take every opportunity to INFORM others. I remember when on a flight to New York, that we asked the stewardess when we might have an opportunity to stand at the back of the plane and daven. She was very helpful. I have heard stories of Rabbis who have announced to their fellow passengers at a terminal that they were going to be praying and that, although the words might sound like Arabic, that this was just Hebrew and he asked for the understanding of his fellow passengers. If we act like mentchen, we will not have these problems. It is just giving Chesed to others who might not understand, and that is our obligation, as Jews. Thank you.
(55) Joseph A. Cleary, January 29, 2010 3:38 AM
I understand why but others won't even try, they're too paranoid.
The general public isn't looking for a religious person they only see terrorists. Shalom, Shalom,
(54) Safiyyah, January 29, 2010 1:39 AM
Flying while Religious
Greetings: This reminds me of the problems experienced by the Muslim imams when they were making salat in the airport prior to boarding a plane. Imagine the confusion if the imams actually tried to pray on the plane. These are horrible times for peoples of all faiths.
(53) Hillel Markowitz, January 29, 2010 1:33 AM
El Al ad on this subject
El Al has an ad which say "Fly with us, we know what they are"
(52) Aseh L'cha Rav, January 28, 2010 10:28 AM
Kiddush HaShem!?!?! Not!
Well, maybe, just maybe, the young man could have just put on his tfillin when he landed. Unfortunately, they do not teach sensitivity in yeshivot. So young men, like the fellow in the news item, only know that they have to put on tfillin without taking the world around him into account. Perhaps roshei yeshiva, rebbeim, and rabbanim should be discussing these, and similar, matters with their pupils in light of current events. I am not a Jewish apologist but we have lessons to learn here. This episode was NOT a kiddush HaShem. To the contrary, it caused a lot more disdain for us than we would like to imagine.
(51) Ephraim Dovid, January 28, 2010 6:26 AM
Apparently the young man did inform the flight attendant.
I am slightly disturbed by the people who, while defending his right to wear tefillin, are saying the boy was wrong not to inform the flight attendant. My neighbor heard from the man who was seated behind the boy that this young man very politely explained to the flight attendant what the tefillin were and why he was donning them. In fact,this same man who was not Jewish,expressed how impressed he was with the young man's explanation and his general demeanor and didn't feel threatened in the slightest. According to this man who was seated behind the boy,it was only the flight attendant who was scared,and the pilot who never even saw the boy and only acted on the flight attendant's words. As for not wearing tefillin at all on a flight, that would be fine except it is possible that the boy was not able to pray before getting on, and if it was his only opportunity to wear tefillin that day while on the plane, he certainly did the correct thing. It's not just "some kid who needs to say his prayers" as one ignorant person wrote. A mitzvah is precious and priceless. This boy was doing something that you can't even imagine the value and impact it had on the entire world, even if we aren't aware of what impact it has. Also,it seems to me that people need to stop being so politically correct and admit to themselves that the terrorists are not young Jewish boys, or old ladies using walkers. We know who the terrorists are. If the airlines would use some of the "common sense" techniques that are employed by ElAl airlines to identify potential threats, this never would've happened(nor either the shoe or underwear bomb attempts).If giving extra scrutiny to the nervous looking arab guy instead of harrasing the wrinkled oriental 80 year old means that some people will be paid a bit more attention to because they were profiled, they shouldn't have any problem obliging themselves to be slightly inconvenienced in order to be on a safe flight, just like everybody else.
(50) Rivkak D, January 28, 2010 1:49 AM
tefillin cause regular hand inspection
I saw that many comments were about flying with no-one questioning tefillin, but maybe that was in major airports where a lot of frum Jews fly. When my teenage son was flying monthly from St. Louis to NYC to visit his dad, for several months he was ALWAYS pulled aside for hand inspection of his tefillin bag. We learned to just allow extra time for check in. I guess the guards finally saw him enough times that they remembered what was in his bag, and quit doing the careful check. Always very respectful, always accepted his explanation that they were required for prayer, and contained nothing but parchment.
(49) Vlad Seder, January 27, 2010 7:33 PM
Kiddush HaShem
The worldwide publicity the mitzvah of Tefillin got as a result of that incident was plain and clear Kiddush HaShem.
(48) Mark Douglas Obenour, January 27, 2010 3:51 PM
Most Christians haven't been "Exposed" to this custom!
It just goes to show once again that all thing work out for good to those that love G-d, And how the adversary uses the unknown to terrorize when something in fact might be good for us or even protect us!
(47) Israel, January 27, 2010 3:16 PM
Israel
This plainly shows how it is time to come home to Israel.
(46) Desmond, January 27, 2010 12:15 PM
Within this message is another
It explains why the Israelis had the first rescue team on the ground in Haiti, and why they have what is reputed to be a Rolls Royce field hospital to care for a people unrelated to them, but in deep distress. They are simply obeying the Command to "Love thy neighbor as thyself" but the world does not understand this and looks for an ulterior motive.
(45) Meir, January 27, 2010 11:19 AM
Sorry F. Buxbaum, YOU get real
Dear F. Buxbaum: I am a jewish businessman who has flown many national and international fligtht after 9/11. I never had, nor have I seen others have any problem with wearing tefillin while in-flight. If we follow your logic, then we should not be allowed any carry-on items because someone can make a bomb out of many things. I think had the boy explained what the tefillin are, that the tefillin are used as part of his prayers, that would have addressed the stewardess' concern. I suspect that your comment was motivated by an embarassment by another jew outwardly observiing his faith.
(44) r, January 27, 2010 11:17 AM
"Getting real" about using suspicion-provoking tefillin
where are u going to draw the line about avoiding whatever might provoke anxiety? The underwear bomber carried syringes--should we prohibit people who have legit medical needs from carrying them on board? They might not be able to wait until the plane lands to get their meds, or be endangered if their suitcase disappears. Or what of diabetics who wear special pumps attached to their bodies?And ladies who have big bouffant hairdos, maybe theyre hiding something in that?Terrorists have such wild imaginations, they think of new stunts, before they get banned --but afterwards all the innnocent regular citizens are left with the anxieties, precautions and inconveniences.And the terorists are enjoying that they've caused that too....
(43) Charles Richman, January 27, 2010 6:21 AM
Tefillin and our day, flying on a plane or not.
Thank you Rabbi Blech for your excellent comments on how Tefillin landing a flying plane. Having flown to Israel five times, and other countries in the world numerous other times, I always pack my Tefillin in my carry on luggage. Similar to many other Jewish men I am afraid of lost baggage, and know because the timing of a flight I will need to lain Tefillin on the plane. Sometimes I do so in flight and other times in the airport. Never, until 5 January 2010, has my Tefillin been questioned. My wife and I were flying home to rural South Carolina from rural Montana and the security people flagged me and said they needed to inspect my carry on baggage before I boarded because of what they noticed in my backpack. Never, yes, never, have security agents stopped and questioned me about my Tefillin. I explained the significance of Tephillin and politely asked the security officers to treat the Yad and Rosh, my Tallit, and my siddur as they would treat their own sacred items. They were extremely respectful and did so; they also questioned me for 70 minutes. I thanked them for the service TSA (Transportation Security Agency) was now doing. Yes, I thanked they for now taking security seriously and acting like Israeli security has for decades. They looked at me a little funny as I showed them the course outline I was preparing to teach, "Terrorism from the Middle East to our Shores". How we Jewish men can wake up in the morning and begin our day without laining Tefillin is a mystery to me. Failure to lain Tefillin is a security threat to us and our Jewish future as a people. Laining Tefillin reminds us of who we are and where we have been historically, physically, and spiritually, Tefillin in the morning sets in motion our day and how we should behave and why we should behave in certain valued ways.
(42) Hillel, January 27, 2010 6:07 AM
Love Hashem, love your neighbor
Good job, Rav! May He who is Holy continue to give you words of wisdom and knowledge to encourage, teach and proclaim the love He has taught us through Torah for Him and for our neighbor
(41) Anonymous, January 27, 2010 6:04 AM
Did not alarm passengers
It always amuses me when people make assumptions about this boy's actions based on their own prejudices that not even the general media makes! The boy was not praying loudly. The passengers were not frightened. The flight attendant was concerned, overly cautious, and ignorant because she was uninformed. She and the pilot did not know what these boxes were and decided, rightly so, to err on the side of caution. The only thing the boy is guilty of is not informing the flight attendant beforehand. He was praying quietly in his seat. His fellow passengers had no clue of the "crisis" until they had landed in Philly and he was pulled off the plane. Some people are just uncomfortable with the idea of us expressing religion in public so they assume that anyone who does must do it with complete disregard for anyone around them. I was on a plane to Israel where we had a minyan with all of us sitting in seats. We did not get in anyone's way and the only people who had problems with it were people who had their own issues.
(40) Rachel, January 27, 2010 2:35 AM
Oh, come on -- hasn't anyone seen "The Chosen" or "Yentl"?
While tefillin may not be ordinary, I am stunned by the ignorance of TSA personnel and others who had no idea what they were! (Although I doubt that ALL the passengers aboard were questioned.....) People working in these fields should be required to be familiar with different cultures. Otherwise, we can look forward to future debacles -- perhpas the arrest of a Christian monk carrying a "dangerous" large rosary?
(39) Anonymous, January 27, 2010 1:50 AM
Disagree with Rabbi's po
Sorry Rabbi, I disagree. With such hypersensitive attitudes about terrorist activities, one needs to use plain old comon sense when in flight. It's unfortunate, but the safety of hundreds of passengers takes precedence over some kid who needs to say his prayers. Who is to say some real terrorist can't mock Jews and put on tefillin loaded with explosives. Please, get real. Thank you. sincerely, F. Buxbaum
(38) ria, January 27, 2010 1:36 AM
re :tefillin
I thought it was great they published a teenager PRAYING, and not killing somebody.
(37) Shelley Asher, January 27, 2010 12:04 AM
The Tefillin Bomb - Brilliant write up and explanation
Thank you Rabbi for this wonderful article. I heard of the Tefillin Bomb scare. I am Jewish and know what Tefillin are but never had all this knowledge. Thank you.
(36) Beau Wadsworth, January 26, 2010 11:52 PM
Not surprised that Gentiles have never seen a Tefillin
As a non-Jew who has been studying Judaism for awhile, I recognized that the object described in the news sounded like a Tefillin. Further into the article, this was clarified, confirming my impression. But prior to my foray into Judaism, I had never even Heard of such a thing. From this I can gather that the Gentile world is essentially unaware of a lot of Jewish things, but that can only be because not very many Jews let the outside world see them. That's understandable. But the really interesting thing about this event is that it may be a sign of a coming surge in public display of spirituality. Wouldn't it be nice if someone besides terrorists and born-again-christians made public displays of faith? The world could use a little more balance.
(35) Stephen Berr, January 26, 2010 10:14 PM
Tefillin on a statue
Just this past weekend we visited the PA Academy of Fine Arts and there we saw a beautiful large marble statue from 1870 by William Wetmore Story called Jerusalem in Mourning. It was a full figure of a woman with a sad look and there on her head was the rosh teffilin. The sign explained that this was a phylactery, worn by Jews, but didn't make clear that (except for Yentl) women usually don't wear tefillin.
(34) Anonymous, January 26, 2010 9:59 PM
Another 'planted' or 'orchestrated' scenario to dispel racial profiling
There is more to this than meets the eye...could well be a CIA propaganda to dispel racial profiling of Muslims, as the sole terrorist group..hmmm. How could they not know he was carrying a 'strange' looking small box...when they must have seen this and examined at the inspection area, right? Also, New York is a densely Jewish populated area...okay, I will give the stewardess the benefit of the doubt...she could be from other state full of 'patriots' and...pardon my thoughts, Rabbi Blech I imagine too much, I know! But I should say --something to think about...(as what Rabbi Solomon always say).
(33) Katherine Lipkin, January 26, 2010 9:41 PM
But what now?
After "Tefillingate," there probably will be more understanding of the practice of laying tefillin. However, now that there is more knowledge about tefillin, there may be non-Jewish nutcases out there who may want to use tefillin as a ruse to smuggle injurious substances on board an airflight. The people responsible for keeping us safe have to check everything. I don't understand why people are upset about this. Our lives are at stake. Observant Jewish Men: Please, please continue to proudly lay tefillin on during air flights, but also understand and support those who need to check anything unusual. Or anything that could be a container for a dangerous substance. One tactic: the Orthodox Jewish man could show the tefillin to the airport personnel before being checked.
(32) D.K. Milgrim-Heath, January 26, 2010 9:40 PM
Tefillin Teaches Us Complete Total Love Of God
Tefillin Teaches Us Complete Total Love For God By D.K.Milgrim-Heath Tefillin teaches us complete total love for God- Not easy for non-Jewish understanding but hard. There must have been really a heavenly humor- As the appeared tefillin started a terrotist rumor. An airline was spared a serious terrorist attack- But then tefillin explanations were answered back. The ways terroriists seemingly hide their bombs- Of course the teffillin raised concerned alarms. For the average person of the world just a few- Do comprehend this religious ritual that's for a Jew. Not many people have seen a tefillin in design- An ancient holy symbol of Judaism made divine. The tefilln prayer was fully explained and straightened out- Another lesson was learned what Jewish faith's all about.
(31) ruth, January 26, 2010 9:25 PM
"fringe" benefits: tefillin
Such a wonderful article and with such profound repercussions and also such humor. The comic in cosmic itself. I think God is laughing. I love your use of words, as in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love in the context of this story. Perhaps there is a subtext here, and truly, God is laughing, because the subject lends itself to this, and everything you say rings so true. I heard a rabbi in Israel talking about research he and colleagues were doing on "auras". He showed how people who were praying and wearing tefillin showed up in this "Kirillian" photography in I believe a sacred light, such as violet, and how this was repeatable in experiments. He showed how negative thoughts then showed up in these auras as different in color. I can't quite remember the details but found them quite interesting.
(30) esty, January 26, 2010 8:04 PM
they could misuse our beloved tefillin
what bothers me is some idiot could in fact pull apart tefillin and insert a bomb. Maybe it needs to be standard practice prior to boarding tefillin is xrayed to ensure the boxes arent loaded with explosives
(29) Mike, January 26, 2010 7:16 PM
In these tense times, a young man on a flight seen to be attaching boxes to his head and arm could set off an alarm among airline personnel and passengers who know nothing about tefillin and Judaism, but remember all too well the shoe bomber and the recent underwear bomber. I think that there should be a rabbinic ruling or advisory guiding the orthodox on this matter.
(28) Donald Bray, January 26, 2010 6:36 PM
Re: Can we be so dumb????????????
Now all a terrorist has to do is dress like a Jew , put on his Tefillin which could be filled with plastic explosive, walk through our outdated security and another 300 people are dead. Why don't you just advertise in Iran. Sorry, you probably have.
(27) Larry, January 26, 2010 6:11 PM
Respect for Security Procedures
This is a great article. Here is a link to the AP article that quoted Rabbi Blech. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100122/ap_on_re_us/us_flight_diverted The tone of Rabbi Blech's AISH article is very respectful towards the needs of security. The AP article makes him sound a little like he thinks the airline personnel overreacted, which is probably what the reporter wanted. From the way Rabbi Blech describes it in the AISH article (and from what I know about the press), the reporter seemed almost breathless to find, joy of joys, that a Jew had tried to blow up a plane, which would prove that all religions are just as evil or at least just as likely to produce hateful, murderous extremists. As Rabbi Blech knew from the get go, this is not the case. Just as heartening, is that neither Rabbi Blech, nor the boy who was detained, nor his family nor their Rabbi attacked the security procedures or those who carried them out. This is quite different from the reaction of virtually all American Muslim leaders, who cry that the world is unfairly stigmatizing them whenever a Muslim individual is detained, even when that individual committed a crime or act of terror. Better that Muslim leaders should denounce Muslims who engage in or support terror and take a page from Jewish leaders like Rabbi Blech, who understand the need for security and see education about uncommon religious rituals as a better way to prevent misunderstandings than working to prevent reasonable security measures.
(26) Shaggy, January 26, 2010 6:04 PM
The Tefillin Bomb
A beautifully heart-felt article I have shared with my friends. We need more interaction between the different faiths and beliefs so there is more understanding and acceptance amony our fellow man.
(25) Anonymous, January 26, 2010 6:03 PM
interesting and timely info, always
Perhaps we Jews should be more vocal in our "complaints." Others seem to make noise when they feel offended. It is possible that some people do not know about a tallis of tefillin. However, we do not need "others' descecrating our religious symbols. I am saddend to think at this time in civilization we find can "intolerance." I have a special needs grandson who at times as met up with a similar situation, but with a medical device. These ordeals are painful--and memorable. Excellent publication.
(24) Abe(Abraham ben Itzhak), January 26, 2010 5:56 PM
ignorance
Is it not just a little bit surprising that americans embraced quite a few words from Yiddish, call themselves Judeo- Christian Society and did not recognised the teffilin, which I am sure they so many times in documentary movies about Holocaust, when some of the Jews put them on just before they had been murdered?
(23) Anonymous, January 26, 2010 5:55 PM
How Do You Know?
In Israel, real Palestinian terrorists disguise themselves as Orthodox Jews to help them avoid detection. This young person of sincere faith probably didn't realize that he may be giving the terrorists an idea for killing innocent people in the skies or in Israel. I suggest that he should daven with t'fillin before he leaves for the airport, or at least in the airport chapel.
(22) Gary Rice, January 26, 2010 5:53 PM
As a goy I love it
I must admit, after several Jews online and in real life call me a righteous gentile, I enjoy most of the times when Jewish traditions and religious edification comes to light. I am not threatened by peaceful Jews yet I am aware of the reputation of the Israeli Army as the best Militia in the world bar none. This said I think it should be the Jewish traditions and activities we should be more exposed to and aware of the less the ones of the Muslims. Islam is an evil attempt at cloning others religious beliefs and trying to morph them into something good which it never will. I pray God bless the land of Israel and the Jewish people as well as us goy. I in no way feel less than the best but I fully recognize Gods choice in Blessing Abraham and his offspring. It allows me to enjoy life without having to always be number one. God loves me as much as he does anyone. God loves everyone who will except his love and even those who do not.
(21) Nasif Nahle, January 26, 2010 5:25 PM
Not "talismans" neither "charms".
I'm not a Hakham, neither a Rav, but I differ a bit with Rabbi Benjamin Blech's assertion about the purpose of wearing Tefillin for affording "spiritual protection to its wearers". This news was published in my local newspaper, El Norte, in Spanish. The reporter did mention of the "talismans" or “charms” that Jews use during their prayers. I immediately wrote a retort to such reporter’s assertion, clarifying that Tefillin are not "talismans" or "charms", but they constitute a perpetual reminder of H’Sh’s Torah that every Jew should use every day, except during Shabbathot and night, as said by Mizrahi Jewish wisdom.
(20) Anonymous, January 26, 2010 5:22 PM
Just ignorance and a touch of stupidity with miost people.
This ignorance also includes Jewish people. The first time I saw this I thought the poor man had a headache until I was later informed what this was.
(19) Anonymous, January 26, 2010 5:19 PM
Millions of Jews now know the beauty of Tefillin
I think it is so beautiful how G-d can in an instant show millions of Jews the beauty of tiffilin. This event was covered by virtually every news service. Jews who may have had no idea what teffillin are now know. Every news story that I read said that the young man was courteous and polite...what a Kiddush Hashem. That this happened during the week of the Torah portion "Bo" where the commandment to don tefilin appears is a beautiful example of how G-d interacts in our lives.
(18) LF, January 26, 2010 4:56 PM
things haven't changed much
I recall that in The House of the Dead, Dostoyevsky had a passage about the curious straps that the Jew of the prison would put on. Misunderstood then and now, but maybe the author here is right, this is a chance to let the world know this is harmless.
(17) Nate Feinberg, January 26, 2010 4:53 PM
Brilliant
I think that your observation regarding the incident on the airplane that was diverted to Philadelphia was wonderful. I enjoyed reading it because it was very educational as well as clear and concise.
(16) yafah1, January 26, 2010 4:43 PM
Common sense!
In this time of trouble, one needs to be wise to it's own actions. Do we need to be seen by others in order to be heard from G-d? One needs to be aware of it's surrounding - not doing what is ritual or comfortable and at the same time, because of a lack of knowledge, mocked by others. Is it the message we need to communicate to others? Anyone who is very serious about its own religious practice do take time to do so before going out in public - just getting up a little earlier in the morning might be the answer. We need to be sensitive to others in order to draw them closer to HaShem and not away because of odd "things" or custom one practices. Is it not about intimacy with HaShem who sees the intention of the heart? I rather fly incognito so I can minister to those around me. I, personally do not want to make a spectacle of my believes but rather bring people to the knowledge of HaShem. If personally find this more important than fulfilling my own tradition - which can very well be done at home instead of taking the chance to attract people in a wrong way! Just me!
(15) alan goodman, January 26, 2010 4:35 PM
Liberty Bell
How ironic that the inscription in the LIberty Bell in Philadelphia is from the Torah !!
(14) Edward M. Moritz, January 26, 2010 4:31 PM
Good explaination...you missed the results.
This incident should not have happened in the first place. The teen should have said his prayers in private before or after the flight, not during! The results of this incident promotes antisemitism. If I were a non Jewish passenger on that flight, I would be more than upset. I am Jewish and have a relative that boarded a plane on a Friday afternoon, the flight was delayed for 2 hours, was in line for take off to England and she put up a fuss and forced the plane to get out of line so she could get off. How do you think the other passengers felt about that. She should never have start a flight on Friday...go on Thursday to prevent hard feelings. I hope she and that teen both learned a lesson from their thoughtless mistakes. We do not need this kind of publicity.
(13) Ari R., January 26, 2010 4:30 PM
They will see the name of G-d is upon you, and they will fear you
At my brother's Bar Mitzvah our rabbi explained that the Mitzvah of Tefillin is linked to the Torah promise, "Then all the peoples of the earth will see that the name of the Lord is called upon you, and they will fear you." This story speaks to that fear. Sure, the non-Jews feared these holy items out of ignorance at the lowest level, but perhaps the non-Jewish mazel feared the power of the Tefillin as well. It is interesting that Jewish Mama notes that this incident happened on the week of Parsha Bo where we are given the Mitzvah. As we are taught by our sages, there is no such thing as simple coincidence. This episode, however laughable and ridiculous it seems on its face, does have greater meaning. I look forward to seeing the day when the nations come to recognize the one true G-d and His chosen nation Israel.
(12) Shmuel Moeller, January 26, 2010 4:00 PM
Google
beautifully written artlcle and why i understand that they may not have heard of tefillin: they surely heard of google! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tefillin
(11) harry shecter, January 26, 2010 2:51 PM
the comments miss the point and ignores the lesson.
the comments miss the point and ignore the lesson.-the point and the lesson are that there is a time and a llace for everything.- putting on tevilan on a flite teaches that lesson very well .-timing is everything,success requirers that we must wait for it .
(10) , January 26, 2010 10:46 AM
Another aspect of the mitzvah of tefillin
Judaism is a religion of thought and of action: it is not enough to believe in G-d (thought); one must submit one's will to G-d's will by keeping the mitzvot (action). Binding tefillin around the head and arm symbolizes the double bond of this double-bind: dedicating one's thoughts and physical strength to G-d. Knowledge and action combine to enable a Jew to live a G-dly life, which includes, as Rabbi Blech so rightly pointed out, the proper treatment of human beings created in G-d's image. There should be no dichotomy between one's religious beliefs and one's lifestyle. This includes belief in G-d's oneness, prayer, studying Torah and carrying out the both the spirit and letter of the law, including tefillin, Shabbat, keeping kosher, honesty, integrity and much, much more. Tefillin binds man to G-d, but then man must take follow up by taking responsibility for his choices!
(9) , January 26, 2010 8:52 AM
The 17 y.o. was praying loudly apparently. An orthodox Jew with tefillin on his head and wrapped around his arm is quite an unusual spectacle for people not au-faith with Judaism on first sight. His fervour may have disturbed certain people. There must be a balance between individual prayer and matters of faith and sensitivity and respect for fellow passengers when flying.
(8) Jewish Mama, January 26, 2010 7:54 AM
Impeccable timing!
This even happened during the week of the reading of the Torah portion "Bo" which is where the commandment to don tefilin appears. Perhaps this whole event is a big commercial from our Heavenly Father for all Jewish men to participate in this important mitzva! Perhaps, in the merit of this young man's observance, some disaster was in fact diverted because of the attention called to that flight. Thanks Rabbi Blech, you are awesome!
(7) Meeda Meyer, France, January 25, 2010 7:34 PM
I had the same with the Travelling Menorah of Olive Oil;;; and the consequence for the LH plane was dlelayed with technical lproblems of the Plane Lights, for couple of hours , Incident of 2004;; Hanukkah Light Miracles;;
same as above;;;The threat of my Menorah Stand; Travelling from Frankfurt to Singapore;
(6) Joel, January 25, 2010 7:03 PM
My TSA Tephillin Experience
One time when I was travelling with tephillin in my backpack I was selected for a random search. The TSA worker took my tephillin case out of my backpack, open it, took one of the tephillin out, and then made a comment like "someone has been having a good time this trip." He obviously thought the leather staps were for a different type of activity! I then said: "they are a religious item." He then looked embarressed and said sorry. WIth all this multi-cultural and diversity training which is required now-a-days of public workers it makes sense to include 5 minutes about tephillin.
(5) Phil, January 25, 2010 6:37 PM
city names
"With perhaps a hidden touch of heavenly humor , the plane with the teenager on board whose tefillin terrified the security personnel was diverted to, of all places, Philadelphia." Better arriving there than reaching St. Louis, I suppose. Some might recall what St. Louis did in the year 1243.
(4) Michael, January 25, 2010 5:11 PM
fitting parsha
Another fitting component of the story is that the weekly portion in which the incident occurred contained the mitzvah of tefillin and some the passages contained within.
(3) Dylan, January 25, 2010 3:54 PM
They should be suspicious; the teenager was holding a strange object.
They should be suspicious; the teenager was holding a strange object.If i was there i would have been afraid- i don't recognize such objects, nor do i trust someone with these object what ever his religion was. After 9/11 i don't blame any flight captains for checking people based on certain things.
(2) the blue Jew, January 25, 2010 2:32 PM
They have reason to be afraid!
"V'yir-oo kol ammei ha'aretz ki shaim Hashem nikra alecha, vi'yar-oo meemeka." The nations of the earth will see that the name of G-d is called on you and they will be afraid of you. The Medrash says this refers to the tefillin of the head.
(1) Tova, January 25, 2010 12:46 PM
Explosive power of Tefillin
My husband and I had to visit the US embassy in Paris. Going through security , my husbands tefillin were checked for explosive powder on them. We were questioned about them and what was inside.Fortunately they allowed us to enter with them . But at first they thought that they tested positive for explosive powder. They certainly are powerful, but the power is spiritual! Kol Hakavod to the young man for demonstrating how much we Jews love Hashem's mitzvot!