A Brooklyn-based ultra-Orthodox Jewish travel company is offering charter flights between Israel and the United States during the Jewish holiday season, providing a rare and discounted option as commercial routes remain disrupted by regional unrest.
The company, Lalechet, has advertised round-trip flights from Tel Aviv to New York starting at $1,650. The package includes a carry-on bag, checked luggage, a kosher meal, children’s coloring supplies, and a full refund in case of cancellation. Similar flights on airlines such as El Al and Delta have surged past $2,600 due to service suspensions tied to ongoing missile threats and attacks near Ben-Gurion International Airport.
Seven round-trip flights are planned around the Jewish High Holidays—Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Sukkot—offering nearly 380 seats in total. The promotion has appeared in Haredi newspapers and local Jewish publications in recent weeks.
Lalechet is also offering one-way flights from Israel to the U.S., a rare option since American carriers suspended operations to Israel in the wake of the war in Gaza and the threat of regional escalation.
The company says all flights are operated in economy class and tailored to the needs of the Haredi community, featuring strictly kosher meals and customer service that accommodates religious observance.
Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Brooklyn, Lalechet brands itself as “the Jewish travel authority.” It organizes heritage tours, group trips, family vacations and student travel for yeshivas. It also arranges private flights for business travelers and families seeking discretion, and offers group charters complete with gourmet meals and Sabbath observance coordination.
Its clientele includes major Hasidic sects such as Satmar and Bobov, but also secular and non-Jewish American travelers attracted by the lower fares. The company’s website states that it holds all necessary licenses and insurance for flights to Israel, though it includes a warning that “due to the situation, sudden cancellations may occur,” with full refunds provided in such cases.
Despite its growing popularity, Lalechet is facing legal challenges. The company and its owner are named in a $5 million civil lawsuit filed in New York State Supreme Court following the 2021 death of Lazar Broll, a 20-year-old Israeli yeshiva student who was killed in a sightseeing flight crash in Ukraine allegedly organized by Lalechet.
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The lawsuit claims Broll joined the flight unaware that the pilot lacked proper certification and that the plane—a kit-built model—was not approved for aerobatic maneuvers. The pilot reportedly executed a sharp turn exceeding 60 degrees, violating manufacturer guidelines and causing the fatal crash. All four passengers aboard were killed.
Broll’s father, Yehuda Jay Broll, accuses the company of negligence in vetting the pilot and aircraft. “There are serious questions this company must answer,” said Mark Mueller, the family’s attorney. Lalechet has not responded to requests for comment.
As with any charter service, passengers flying with Lalechet rely on a single operator, often outside the regulatory frameworks that govern commercial airlines. While the service offers a potentially faster and more affordable travel option amid ongoing disruptions, experts advise passengers to review the terms carefully, including refund policies, insurance coverage and the company’s accountability in the event of unexpected changes.