Now we can assume that El Al won't hire religious employees and force out those who observe shabbat. I support the boycott if only to end discrimination against the religious job seeker.

El Al is the one thing that represents Jewish values. Working for a living and providing for your family, justifying your existence, fighting for your country when its very existence in in danger, these are not Jewish values, but El Al is. I wonder what Rabbi Akiva would have said about this or the Rambam.

HUGE and very welcome reduction in body odor, screaming and bolting of badly-behaved children, and aisle jams caused by networking 'good old boys.'

Good let them fly with Iranair. They have a lot in common with the Iranian Mullahs. How pathetic. They still live in the Middle Ages. El Al should fly on the Sabbath. They are a business and the way things look they could go out of business in the next few years.

Only use El Al when You want to arrive in one piece. Otherwise, there are other alternatives. The Rabbi can also choose another airline, if he has the stomach for it. I'm so glad I pray instead of asking this "Rabbi" for advice. Should the Israeli air force also "not fly on the Sabbath"? Oy Vey!

I suppose you're disappointed that the Germans you like flying with didn't finish the haredim off.

Of course one can heal on Shabbat- didn't you ever hear of pikuach nefesh? Try learning before advertizing your ignorance.

Considering the only cultural acheivment of secular "i'm not Jewish I'm Israeli's" is Dana International getting the hareidim off the plane is something you can be proud of.

I am sorry, but I really cannot understand how a Jew can hate his brother the way you do.

I have a suggestion for Soggy, Semsem, Dotty Fiend, and and the other harediphobics who complain about sharing airplane space with haredim. Start your own airline Secul-AIR! Flights on Friday night and Shabbat ONLY, pork, shrimp, and cheeseburgers served, with special halal meals offered for Moslem travellers. For the in-flight movie, your choice of gay or straight porn. Have a fun flight!

But when he is out of uniform you would think he is just orthodox Jewish (beard, black kipa). Just shows how hypocritical you anti-hareidi herrenvolk can be. You'd spit at someone whose risking his skin for you.

First, I am revolted and saddened by the outpouring of sinat chinam against a portion of Am Yisrael. With friends having opinions like these frummy-bashers, who needs enemies? No wonder the Geulah has not yet come, for in truth we are our own worst enemies. Second, the Gedolei HaDor are just as entitled to express their opinions as we are in this blog. While I can understand the rationale of El Al management to get people home (especially those who didn't care about Chillul Shabbat), I'm wondering if the decision was at least partially tinged by the desire to get equipment and crews back to where the were supposed to be so that a normal schedule could be resumed. Last week, I returned from Israel on a flight where at least 80% of the travellers would have been considered to be observant. In my view, it was short-sighted and a stupid business decision to annoy a group of customers that is a major revenue source. What has been gained in the long-run?

I flew Continental to the States because I knew I would go crazy shut up in a plane for 11 hours with that lot. Luckily only a very few on Continental. They are also very rude in the queues, thinking they have every right to push in front. Yes I and friends have experienced this personally. I still, of course prefer our own EL AL, more space between the seating and their service has vastly improved. Security is good, but so is the U.S. flights and the Brits. Can't say for others as haven't flown with anyone else. Good luck EL Al stick to your guns, you can leave people stranded just because of those that evidently dont worry about getting to their destinations asap.

I flew on Tower Air to Israel because it was a spur of the moment decision to make the trip and I pretty much had to take whatever flight I could get. Unfortunately, I wasn't aware of the fact that the ultra-Orthodox would fly on Tower, but not El Al because it's owned by the state. My brother was with me on that flight and he said it looked as if they had "launched Boro Park" (a neighborhood in Brooklyn where a lot of Hasidim live, for those who may not know). And damned if he wasn't right.

The IAF has a standing permit from all pertinent Rabbinical sources to operate on Shabbat, in any circumstances, any conditions and including any pilots. There have always been religious pilots in the IAF but never Haredi. I make a distinction between the two.

SAGI, What do you think about the way secular israelis act when abroad? As a Non-jew i was disgusted last summer wheni stayed in a hotel in turkey to see the general attitude and behaviour of the non-religious Israelis there. It seems that for all your modern thinking and running away from your true heritage and authentic roots you act like true animals. The Israelis in my hotel (who even smoked on saturday!!) which is supposed to be you jews day of rest, had no respect for anyone, spoke to their wives like dirt and stole as much as they possibly could from the hotel including towels and light fittings! wheras on the only journey i have taken to Israel on el al from my home town in leeds, i sat next to a "haredi" family. the respect the husband had for his wife was impeccible, the childrens behavious was outstanding compared to their equivalent "cool" secular couterparts, who were runningup and down the plane, whilst their father flirted with the stewardess, in front of his wife!!! If anything, the secular zionists that yuo speak of have the MOST to answer for. they might do the army but what behavious they have! what ignorance of their religion! you people will be the downfall of Israel whilst the truly religius will be the only ones standing

Every society has its yobbos, including your own "gentrified" society...spare us your sanctimonious hypocrisy

How old is everyone here that they must attack someones odor. Honestly i don't think it's the odor more than remembering who you are every time you see a Haredi especially on the plane. You probably think the plane will have a bigger chance to crash now that you have to deal with all your mistakes and sins on a 10 hour flight with turbulence. It would be so much better if you can go through life without prior thought of where you came from and what you are to do in this world. Hey even the most religious needs the break from religiousity. Why is it than that secular and atheist Christians are not intimidated by religious Christians on an airplane. Maybe the religious christian also smells. I don't believe all orthodox smell. I believe the reason is there is no feeling of attachment between the 2 , yet by Jewish people the feeling was always there since they became a nation. The secular cannot think I am me and he is he like an atheist christian can except when the 2 Jews live separately but on a plane the guilt will always come back even if the Haredi minds his own business and reads Tehillim and doesn't smell. All you seculars cannot live with yourselves and therefore you pick on the Haredi whom you believe fringes on your democracy by just showing his face. So you therefore move away from him badmouth him and his odor etc. I say if you have a problem with someone don't make it his problem when it's really yours. Either you join them because you cannot beat them or move to Antartica the only continent you probably will not find them unless Chabad got there already

I am well aware of this problem and have many times been in a situation where I have to hang my head low. I can but apologize to you for their behaviour as it reflects on me and my Nation. Sorry, I truly regret this type of behaviour.

I hate no one. I only protest my dislike and the fact that it is wrong in any situation for a minority to impose its will on a majority. It is wrong to have your nose stuck in a book all day and every day, even the Torah, at the expense of meeting your obligations to yourself, family and Nation.

Not a very wise or even sane comment. My advice to you is to check the connection between tongue and brain, obviously it is slightly out of order. I have respect for every Jew, the problem is that the Haredim have no respect for others. This is manifest on a daily basis and in every aspect of Israeli society.

I have to laugh while reading talkback how the secular israeli regards himself a good behaving person, well let me tell you what the non-jews in belgium think about the secular israelis, they consider them the most discusting people on earth. I myself set a few months ago on elal plane from NYC to tlv next to a seculer israeli law profesor well I can tell you I never set next to a more discusting un-considerate person ever on any plane how I wish I would have be allowed to name him here but I keep the Torah which forbids it.

Ditto

GREAT GREAT GREAT!!! could not read better news.

the BEST news of the day.

an atonement for the Chillul Hashem Berabim

"Behechsher hamehudar of the chief judges of the BaGGGadtz" (not to be confused with Badatz).

Yes Kyle. Israel will have many airline companies. Secularair, planes serving kosher and planes serving non kosher, Harediair, planes for Belz, Planes for Satmar, Planes for NK and of course we must not forget non female carrying planes bacause as you well know for man to sit himself beside a woman is an abomination. Ah Kyle ! I know, this is called integration, kibbutz galuyot, kol Yisrael haverim, kol Yisrael arevim ze lze. I have fond memories of being taught these values in school long before the attempted Haredi coup d'etat. What a pity that this coup will be successful in the end and that we shall be despised by the world, even more so than now, just like Iran. Such a shame that my beloved Israel is going down the pan. Clown suits and long beards will be our downfall.

"this is called integration, kibbutz galuyot" No, Soggy, it's called CAPITALISM. You can form a Secul-AIR airline, schedule all flights for Friday PM & Saturday, serve only non-kosher food and BAN religious Jews from your flights. Instead of whining about sharing an airplane with smelly dussim, why don't you put your money where your mouth is? I would like to see how successful Secul-AIR would be. Go for it!