Israel – Sometimes, in order to be truly righteous, it is better for a Jew to buy from a gentile and not from another Jew. Airplane tickets, for example. On Wednesday, airlines from Britain, Belgium, Russia and the United States picked up the highest kashrut rankings, in a list prepared by the Rabbinic Commission on Transportation Matters.
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The ranking – the first of its kind – is aimed at helping the perplexed ultra-Orthodox traveler avoid viewing films that constitute “a terrible spiritual danger,” a danger that cannot be avoided at an altitude of 35,000 feet.
The commission, which was established about a year ago on behalf of rabbis from all streams, published an extraordinary document in the two official ultra-Orthodox newspapers, Yated Ne’eman and Hamodia, on Wednesday: “The problem of in-flight movies constitutes a terrible spiritual danger. Several companies do not offer movies at all, and other companies do not have central screens, but only individual screens for each passenger, which can be turned off. These companies show that there is another way, and it is appropriate to fly with them,” the document stated.
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“I’ve been contacted by hundreds of bitter people,” says a person close to the commission who was asked how it decided which airlines offer particularly inappropriate in-flight movies. Many ultra-Orthodox travelers complained they were shown licentious films while flying, the source said. He also noted that the ultra-Orthodox feel “they have paid their good money only to sit ‘on thorns’ for hours.”
The commission established three rankings for airlines in accordance with their in-flight movie policies. In first place are the airlines that do not show films at all, such as British Airways flights to London or Swiss International Airlines flights to Switzerland. In second place are the companies that have individual screens “that can be turned off, but it is still possible to see the screens of other passengers, and therefore travelers are advised to equip themselves with a ‘folding curtain.'” The third-ranked airlines also offer individual screens, but sometimes bring in planes with large cabin screens when demand is high.
everything has a bright side. just yesterday, 1 of the big airlines announced that in order to save money, they were cutting out in flight movies.
I think we should insist on separate seating for men and women.And maybe a mechitza also.
And women should get on from the rear of the plane.Lets check with the rabbinical transportation committee.
A boycott is in order. Then, the rest of us won’t have to be bothered with these people on board our flights.
almost all flight now have the monitor in the seat don’t turn it on
Not all passengers of flights to Israel are Jewish. What about all the Christian people who visit Israel and support the land? (Gogle how many groups of Christian and Catholic friends of Israel there are and how many tours go to the holy land). Should they be punished from watching movies on a 12hour flight too?
This is nonsense!!Everything the Rabbi’s don’t like they “ban”. I agree with destro613 07-11-2008 – 12:44 PM. No one forces you to watch a movie. There are news channels, a GPS map and the choice to not turn it on and read a book or holy sefer instead.
It seems the rabbis want to control every move their flock makes.
Maybe the rebbes should have a kosher GPS system, this way the GPS unit can give direction only using approved streets. Of course it would have real time information. For example, Go down 50 street, even thought 49 street would be better since on 49 street a woman with a skirt a few inchs above her kness is walking on the block
Are these the Rabbis who gave a brocha to people flying El Al because they hols shabbos