Sight to see: This photo of a man who appears to be an Orthodox Jew shows him seated aboard a plane while wrapped in a plastic bag, drawing controversy and question on what for
- An Orthodox Jewish plane passenger was seen wrapped in a plastic bag during a flight
- It was believed the man is a Kohein, a religious descendant of the priests of ancient Israel, who are banned from flying over cemeteries
- Fellow passengers strained to see the unusual sight and took pictures
But one passenger took his beliefs a step further by covering himself in a plastic bag for the whole of his journey because his religion forbids him to fly over cemeteries.
This was the bizarre sight that greeted plane passengers when an Orthodox Jewish man covered himself under a plastic sheet.
It was believed the man is a Kohein, a religious descendant of the priests of ancient Israel, who are banned from flying over cemeteries.
Many wrap themselves in plastic bags as a compromise measure.
The startling photograph, which has now gone viral after being posted on Reddit, shows fellow passengers straining over their seats to get a look.
Beneath his plastic wrapping, the man is dressed entirely in black, and appears to be wearing a Jewish skullcap or 'kippah'.
As a controversial solution - not entirely allowed by those in the Jewish Orthodox - the plastic bag creates a kind of barrier between the Kohein and the surrounding tumah, or impurity.
Rabbi Jeffrey W. Goldwasser, of Temple Beit HaYam in Israel, explained: 'In orthodox and Conservative communities, Kohanim are expected to abstain from coming in contact with the dead, which includes a prohibition on visiting cemeteries except for the funerals of close relatives.'
Even if they can be secured by a seat belt, the passengers wouldn't be able to reach an oxygen mask or quickly escape the plane in the event of an emergency.
There is also the question of how they can breathe.
Pre-punched holes in the plastic are said to invalidate the barrier, according to Jewish newspaper YatedNe'eman.
'Only if when the kohein is putting on this bag it accidentally rips can there be some leniency,' the article claims.
'Kohanim have a duty to protect their taharah, purity,' according to the article.
'They have been bestowed with extra kedushah which makes them worth of being meshorsei Hashem. At times, there may be extra demands made upon them in order to maintain that standard of kedushah and taharah.
Some flights go to great lengths to take specific paths to avoid cemeteries.
And passengers can also be made aware in advance if a body will be aboard the plane in cargo.
The photograph, which was posted on the Reddit yesterday, had a caption which read: 'An Orthodox Jew in an airplane with women - so he covers himself with a plastic bag...'
A strict code of conduct prevents Orthodox Jewish men and women from mixing in public, with Israeli airline El Al seeing an increase in the number of religious men demanding to be reseated away from women in recent years.
While ultra-Orthodox Jews do follow to strict guidelines which include gender segregation in public, it is claimed this photograph does not show that.
One user of the Reddit site wrote: 'This has nothing to do with women. He is a cohen, descendant from the high holy priests of the temple and they are not allowed to walk into or fly over a cemetery, which would render them impure.'
It is not known when the photograph was taken, or what airline the man was travelling on, but it is more than likely it was an El Al aircraft flying out of Tel Aviv, which is surrounded by a number of cemetries, according to internet users.
In 2001, El Al Airlines decided not to allow ultra-Orthodox Jews cover themselves in plastic because 'flight safety considerations do not allow for passengers to board while covered in sealed plastic bags.'
A year later it was reported that flight crew got into an argument with a passenger who attempted to fly wrapped in plastic. The confrontation eventually led the pilot to turn the plane around.
One woman even sued the airline after staff moved her to the back of a plane when an ultra-Orthodox man refused to sit next to her.
The Impurity sought to be isolated from is not the cemeteries five miles below him, but simply the "others" too near for his (alleged) religion's comfort. [I assume his concept of "strict observance" refers to some ancient code. Did the Koran - Oops, I mean the Tora,Tora,Tora; Oops I mean the Torah!, talk about not flying over cemeteries? I doubt it!]
The article states "As a controversial solution - not entirely allowed by those in the Jewish Orthodox - the plastic bag creates a kind of barrier between the Kohein and the surrounding tumah*, or impurity."
Now what is that dreaded "impurity?" . . A one out of twenty chance of cemeteries FIVE MILES BELOW him? Or, a hundred percent chance of the rest of us, mere feet away? The answer is obvious.
CONCLUSION: I say that airlines ought to allow it, but ONLY if that flyer's faith is as pure, strict and rewarding as they claim. Thus, the plastic bag should be thick, airtight, and completely sealed! If God wills it, then they will live the miracle will prove the value.** If not, new winners for the Darwinian awards!
R.C.
* Tumah spelled backwards is humat, which is damn close to "human" or "humanity." Just a coincidence, I guess. (I mean, there must be SOME out there, right?) ;-)
** The duration of the flight will likely be critical re the occurence of such miracles.
P.s., I gotta add that hypocrisy is not exclusive to any one organized religion; indeed, it rather seems to be the single most common trait they alll share.
RC