Interesting: Why EL AL Has Coffin-Free Flights

Interesting: Why EL AL Has Coffin-Free Flights

61

While those of us in the passenger cabin of an aircraft might not think much about it, all kinds of stuff is being transported in the cargo hold of planes, like human remains, including coffins.

Along those lines, did you know that Israel’s EL AL has coffin-free flights? And do you know why? Maybe you do, but it was news to me, and I find this to be quite interesting, so I imagine I’m not alone…

EL AL expands coffin-free flights

OMAAT reader Jeffrey forwarded me a communication for travel agents, where EL AL announced it would introduce more coffin-free flights between New York (JFK) and Tel Aviv (TLV). Say what, now?! Well, here’s the memo:

Beginning August 4, 2024, EL AL will begin a trial period where LY2 will be coffin-free Sunday through Wednesday. On Thursdays, to ensure that the deceased and their families arrive in Israel with enough time before Shabbat, LY2 will accept coffins.

This policy is in place through September 30, 2024. Any changes beyond September will be communicated well in advance.

As a reminder, all flights originating from EWR, BOS and FLL are coffin-free.

EL AL designates some flights as being coffin-free

What’s the logic for coffin-free flights?

When I first saw this announcement, I wondered if the reason for this update was based on logistics or religion. Flights to Israel see way more human remains transported than most other routes, given how central Israel is to Judaism. As a matter of fact, a majority of EL AL flights not designated as coffin-free do have human remains in the cargo hold.

Apparently the reason for these coffin-free flights is due to religious traditions. Specifically, it’s so that Kohanim (select religious leaders, or priests) can travel without worrying about tumah (religious purity laws), which forbid them from being in the presence of dead bodies. For these purposes, being in the same aircraft would be considered being in the presence, even if the cargo hold is fully separated from the passenger cabin.

I’d be fascinated to know how EL AL goes about balancing these two conflicting needs — obviously the airline needs to carry religious leaders, but it’s also important for the airline to carry cargo, including human remains.

Is shifting one flight from New York to being coffin-free reflecting that that there’s more demand from religious leaders than for human remains, or…?

Regardless, I’m happy to have learned something new. Historically my only reference to coffins on planes was referring to British Airways’ old Club World business class as “Club Coffin.”

Coffin-free flights are to accommodate religious leaders

Bottom line

As it turns out, EL AL operates coffin-free flights, and the airline is expanding the flights to the US that are designated as such. The reason comes down to religion, whereby select religious leaders can’t be in the presence of the dead, even if the coffin is just in the cargo hold of an aircraft.

Were you aware of EL AL’s coffin-free flights?

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  1. Yitzchok Hakohein Kranczer Guest

    Not mentioned yet is that El Al has to balance multiple religious requirements here. Jews try burying their dead as fast as possible. The less flights available, the harder it gets to have a quick burial.

  2. Andy Diamond

    I think it is necessary to stricly separate state and religion. In this sense, if it is a private decision by the management of ElAl, which seems to be privately controlled in this moment, this is obviously their right to decide so. However, if the Government of Israel had intervened in favour of religion, this would be completely unacceptable.

    2 more replies
  3. Dave Guest

    While some halachic authorities forbid Kohanim from flying on a plane carrying coffins, most other contemporary halachic authorities do approve doing so.

    The baggage compartments on El Al airplanes conform to the required dimensions of empty space needed in order to properly separate the baggage compartment from the passenger cabin so that the tumah (ritual impurity) does not enter the passenger cabin. In fact, the baggage compartment is also constructed in such a way that...

    While some halachic authorities forbid Kohanim from flying on a plane carrying coffins, most other contemporary halachic authorities do approve doing so.

    The baggage compartments on El Al airplanes conform to the required dimensions of empty space needed in order to properly separate the baggage compartment from the passenger cabin so that the tumah (ritual impurity) does not enter the passenger cabin. In fact, the baggage compartment is also constructed in such a way that it is halachically considered to be a separate structure from the body of the airplane. Therefore, there are no concerns that a Kohen may be in violation of being in the same “domain” as a dead body. There is also a unique, halachically approved method for packing coffins on these flights that prevents the tumah from spreading to other parts of the plane.

  4. Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. Guest

    I’m 99.7% Ashkenazi, Conservative/Zionist views. Never heard of this. Makes sense that ELAL provides this service to honor religious law.

    1. caganisso Guest

      LOLOLOLOLOLOL I just can’t. Really LOLOLOLOLOL

  5. Andrew Cohan Guest

    My grandfather went to Palestine (prior to establishment of the State of Israel) for his father's funeral and was not permitted to enter the cemetary, as we are Kohanim. So when I saw this headline, I assumed it was for the same reason. Being Chosen has a mixed bag of privleges and burdens... Andrew Cohan

    2 more replies
  6. MPS in Charlotte Diamond

    Asking out of genuine curiosity… what are the consequences for the Kohanim if a passenger dies on one of these flights?

    1. flying100 Member

      When you can't do anything you can't.

      The point is to try to make sure not to be under the same roof as a dead body. And even more, not to fly over a cemetery which can be sometimes challenging. For example in Budapest one final approach route (runway 13l) is flying directly over the Jewish cemetery (which is right near the airport) so many Kohanim are never flying to Budapest because of that.

  7. globetrotter Guest

    "Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool."
    Mark Twain

    Thus, religion is neither rational nor logical. Otherwise, tens of millions of people needed not die in the name of religion. A business is run based on profits with accommodations for religious and cultural adherences. Islam forbids interest but all Islamic banks charge interest on loans and mortgages. Religion is hypocricy. Its teachings apply to the flock but not the...

    "Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool."
    Mark Twain

    Thus, religion is neither rational nor logical. Otherwise, tens of millions of people needed not die in the name of religion. A business is run based on profits with accommodations for religious and cultural adherences. Islam forbids interest but all Islamic banks charge interest on loans and mortgages. Religion is hypocricy. Its teachings apply to the flock but not the preachers and leaders.

    1. TravelinWilly Diamond

      Great, thank you so much!

      Did you know this is a discussion about an airline not carrying caskets on certain routes and days?

      Or in other words, "Sir, this is a Wendy's."

  8. Kraig Richard Guest

    Imagine how many flights it would take to transport the vaporized remains of the tens of thousands of victims of isreals genocide. #neverforget
    #nomoreinfanticide

    2 more replies
  9. Creditcrunch Diamond

    Am sure this was blogged a number of years ago as I still have the image of that Jewish chap wrapped in a bag on board, just google image “Jew in a bag” , not the most flattering search I know but that image has stuck in my mind.

  10. Eliyahu Guest

    Ben -- others have made the comment already about kohanim not being "religious leaders" anymore.

    Please update your article -- it's cringe-inducing. And next time, consult an observant Jew for fact checking on things like this :)

  11. 1 more reply
  12. Eskimo Guest

    Who determines what is considered being in the presence?

    And what is the presence test used?

    Same building?
    Same city?
    Same state?
    Same continent?
    Same planet?

    It's always educational to explain religion from different perspectives.

    4 more replies
  13. Toby Guest

    Obviously for some moronic religious reasons. One doesn’t need to read the story to arrive at that conclusion…

  14. chris w Guest

    Why don't they just tell the passengers they are all coffin-free flights?

    ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

    1. Eskimo Guest

      There is someone somewhere who can see all and know all.

      Can't get away with lying.

  15. Jim Guest

    IIRC, a few years back, LY had to re-route flight patterns around TLV because it overflew a cemetery, and that was "too close"

  16. Adam Guest

    It's probably not gonna take long until the bots invade here again because you mentioned El al...

    1. Antonio Guest

      You always see the same trying to promote hate comments but i always see no effect. Can you relax and calm down a bit?

  17. M. Casey Guest

    The 777-200 HD seats have been referred to as coffin seats.

    Questioning, which religious text covers airplanes?

    1 more reply
  18. Matthew Loren Guest

    Ben, I've been reading your blog for some time now and as an Orthodox Jew I definitely smiled when I saw the title of this article.
    One thing about Kohanim (priests): They are the descendants of Aaron (the brother of Moses). It is something that you are born into, and for Kohanim to be able to travel to Israel, they need to fly on a coffin-free flight or rely on certain leniencies in Jewish law that not everyone relies upon.
    Kudos for covering this!

    2 more replies
  19. Adam Guest

    El al is run by very religious Jewish people that's why these seemingly mundane things to the average westrener happen. And the US by far has the biggest Jewish population in the world including more than Israel so many religious Jewish people go through this route probably much more than on other routes so it's probably to accommodate them.
    This is my theory as an Israeli jew why.

    2 more replies
  20. DT Diamond

    As Matt said, Kohanim are not necessarily religious leaders today. They are simply descendants of Aaron (Moses' brother), who served in the Jewish Temple when it stood. Still, there are certain stringencies that Kohanim try to adhere to even today.

    Kohanim are not permitted to be "under the same roof" as a Jewish body. Many Kohanim relied on the opinion that the decedent is not under the same "roof" when in the cargo hold, as...

    As Matt said, Kohanim are not necessarily religious leaders today. They are simply descendants of Aaron (Moses' brother), who served in the Jewish Temple when it stood. Still, there are certain stringencies that Kohanim try to adhere to even today.

    Kohanim are not permitted to be "under the same roof" as a Jewish body. Many Kohanim relied on the opinion that the decedent is not under the same "roof" when in the cargo hold, as they are separated compartments (and the remains themselves are sealed in a box). El Al is offering this flight as an option for those who do not hold of that opinion.

  21. Izz Guest

    Was coming here to say the same as Matt. I myself am a Kohen but I am far from a Rabbi. It is referenced to those who descend from the Levite tribe in Israel, that cannot become impure to the presence of Human remains. It's a significant size population of Kohanim.

    Anyone with the last name "Cohen" is usually a Kohen for what it's worth.

  22. Sisyphus Guest

    A coffin would be more pleasant than flying that airline

    2 more replies
  23. Bob Harn Guest

    This makes perfect sense and is both rational and logical. This is not completely and utterly ridiculous in any way. (Eye roll)

    3 more replies
  24. Matt Guest

    Just a quick clarification: Cohenim are decedents of ritual priests, but aren’t necessarily religious leaders today. And not every religious leader today is a Cohenim. A

    1. Harrye Guest

      Let’s lighten up this conversation.
      A husband and wife take her mother to Israel. The mother dies. The funeral director offers to bury her in Israel for $200 or ship her back for $2000. They decide to ship her back to the USA. Why would you spend that money asked the funeral director. The man answered 2000 years ago they buried someone here and he came back after 3 days.

Featured Comments Most helpful comments ( as chosen by the OMAAT community ).

The comments on this page have not been provided, reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any advertiser, and it is not an advertiser's responsibility to ensure posts and/or questions are answered.

TravelinWilly Diamond

Great, thank you so much! Did you know this is a discussion about an airline not carrying caskets on certain routes and days? Or in other words, "Sir, this is a Wendy's."

5
globetrotter Guest

"Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool." Mark Twain Thus, religion is neither rational nor logical. Otherwise, tens of millions of people needed not die in the name of religion. A business is run based on profits with accommodations for religious and cultural adherences. Islam forbids interest but all Islamic banks charge interest on loans and mortgages. Religion is hypocricy. Its teachings apply to the flock but not the preachers and leaders.

4
Matt Guest

Just a quick clarification: Cohenim are decedents of ritual priests, but aren’t necessarily religious leaders today. And not every religious leader today is a Cohenim. A

4
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