Hebrew National hot dogs has used the slogan, “we answer to a higher authority” since 1965. When flying, though, we all answer to the cabin crew, pilots, gate agent, airline and aviation regulatory authority.
With Aerolineas Argentinas, they can be pretty strict with cabin baggage. Everything gets a tag to show it’s been inspected and certified compliant with carry on rules.
So before a recent Buenos Aires to Bariloche flight on the state-owned carrier, a passenger spotted a man carrying a torah up the boarding stairs. The torah, the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, is supposed to be carried in the right hand and rests on the right shoulder. It’s tough to do that up a set of air stairs!
Credit: Hannah Roberts
And, answering to the authority of Aerolineas Argentinas, the torah has a cabin bag tag on it. So you know it’s kosher (as carry on baggage, anyway).
Credit: Hannah Roberts
In a humorous twist of faith meeting flight, this incident charmingly demonstrates how even the most sacred of items can become part of the everyday rituals of air travel, proving that sometimes, we all truly do answer to the authority in the skies.
The total silliness of religious rituals once again displayed in broad daylight. Must be a slow news day, any news on the nun who wore Hello Kitty sneakers?
I hope the Torah got its own seat. I’d hate to think of a sacred object like that being slung in the overhead next to someone’s gym bag.
Thank goodness it didn’t have to pass by Angela from United in Houston
I wouldn’t want to have the responsibility to carry a Torah through airports and on flights. I always heard that if a Torah falls, you (and every MOT who witnesses it) has to fast for 40 days. Not sure if that is an urban legend or real…
Like the Torah, Aerolinas Argentina’s planes are also 3,300 years old.
Can’t believe the Torah didn’t get upgraded. Absolutely sac-religious …. The Bible’s greatest hit & it has to sit in coach…
Personal experience, as directed by Rabbis, when transporting a Torah outside of synagogue I always wrap it in something else over the ceremonial cover (known as a mantel). Could even be a duffle bag. But it could be that keeping it visible was a way to better ensure the airline wouldn’t try to check it as cargo, which would be very inappropriate. I hope he bought a seat for it.
Cabin bag tags are stupid af anyway.
Cmdr. Shepard, the custom today is to fast one day, not 40.
@Dave — Thanks for the clarification. I never knew if they were serious about the 40 days, trying to scare us when we were younger, or if it was an urban legend that just spread .
The custom, indeed, is to fast for forty days. Or, get forty people to fast for one. No one said Jews were dummies.
This antisemitisim must be stopped! We always avoid from Argentina for this reason.