After a delay caused a plane full of passengers arriving from a Pesach program to land just hours before Shabbos, Misaskim came to the rescue.
The passengers flew out from the international Pesach program with ample time to make it home for Shabbos, but an unexpected delay had the plane arrive approximately 2:00 PM this afternoon at JFK airport.
Upon entering the airport, the passengers, many whom are from Lakewood, realized they were not going to get through customs in time to make it home for Shabbos.
Misaskim of Lakewood was contacted, and they immediately got in touch with Misaskim volunteer Rabbi Matis (Mathew) Melnicke – Yankie Meyer ZT”L’s right hand man in this field – who in turn got in contact with the Customs and Border Protection.
With the assistance of JFK Acting Port Director Elva Muneton and her team, all passengers were expedited through security to ensure they could make it home for Shabbos.
“We would like to thank Elva and her team for their tremendous dedication and assistance, allowing the many Jewish passengers to uphold their sacred religious practices,” Misaskim told TLS. “The assistance they provided during this unforeseen circumstance is not only immensely appreciated by the immediate passengers, but also by all who would have been affected.”
Another coordinator added, “This is exactly what Yankie ZT”L started, how he lived, and what he wanted us to do. We are just continuing his holy legacy.”
While it’s a beautiful story, one wonders why the participant’s in the Pesach program didn’t simply use their private jets and fly straight from Florida to Lakewood? Lol, maybe?
Because they needed to clear customs so they weren’t coming from FL
Jealous?
Elva, I was not a passenger, nor do I know anyone on the plane.
I am saying thank you very much for what you did, just for the fact that you saw a group of people in need, and you cut the red tape and got the work done.
Elva, Thanks, Thanks, Thanks.
I don’t think it was responsible for anyone to even book flights past certain times on an erev shabbs . You need to take delays into account.
I know Everyone wanted to just get home and get the kids on regualr schedule before school but to set yourself up for trouble isnt chinuch.
Although you would have to pay more money to stay for shabbs , that’s the sacrifice you chose when gng to Florida for yt .
Well, says they went through customs. So clearly came from out of the country.
Good job Fellas. Tizku LMitzvos.
Isn’t there a clear halacha about travel erev shabbos?
There is halacha. And no one is saying they didn’t adhere to halacha. Delays can still happen. Even beyond those built in to the “halachic timeframe”.
There are halachos to this. Ample time allows for some unforeseen circumstances. But sometimes delays are beyond that. They might have made it home in the nick of time. Or they might have faced additional red tape. For issues as this, Yankie Mayer ZT”L and his team have the right connections. It was a matter of cutting the red tape as much as it was making sure the red tape didn’t get tangled up to keep these Yidden delayed further than necessary.