EXCLUSIVE: A resident who hasn’t missed Kiddush Levana in about 15 years, was not ready to miss this month’s Kiddush Levana either. With yesterday’s cloudy overcast, and the last opportunity of the month to do Kiddush Levana, the man asked his wife if he could fly to Los Angeles to catch Kiddush Levana, as the weather conditions in California looked more promising.

His wife agreed and decided to make a family trip of it with the children, but asked to fly to a closer destination instead.

They decided to fly to Chicago, where the overcast seemed clear as well.

Being a pilot, he managed to quickly book tickets for the family, and off they went.

A few hours later, they arrived to Chicago, and checked into a Hotel.

At about 11:45 p.m., the pilot walked to the top floor of the Hilton’s parking lot and waited for the few clouds to clear before he could perform Kiddush Levana.

While staning there, he was approached by a security officer who asked him what he’s doing standing in the parking lot at that late hour.

“Can I help you?” the officer asked him. “No thank you, I’m ok” he replied. “Well what are you doing up here”? the officer persisted. “I’m waiting for the moon to come out”, the pilot explained. “Excuse me”?! the officer asked, to which the pilot answered with a short explanation of Kiddush Levana.

“Well I’m going to have to ask you to leave, because you’re a security threat”, the officer told him.

After pleading with the officer to allow him ten minutes, the officer agreed.

Minutes later, the Levana emerged and he was able to recite the Kiddush Levana, without explicitly saying the Bracha however. Although he did receive a Heter to say the Bracha until 1:14 a.m. this morning, his Rav suggested he not recite the Bracha.

“B’derech She’adam Rotzeh Leileich Molichin Oso”, the pilot told TLS.

(The attached photo is of the Hilton Hotel, with the view of the moon).