EL AL – “The Jewish Airline”
With the Jewish star on its planes, EL AL is seen by the world as the “Jewish” airline
Letter Excerpts:
“I just finished a delicious lunch & before I take a nap I decided to write. The plane is very nice & the ride is nice and smooth”
— July 19, 1957
“I had a most wonderful & enjoyable trip. The ride was smooth & swift. The service was excellent with the most delicious meals I’ve ever eaten in my life.”
“We landed first in Gander, then London, Paris, Athens & finally Israel at midnight Saturday Israel time.”
“It thrilled me no end flying over Tel Aviv & landing.”
— July 21, 1957
Bob Jacobs at the Israeli-Jordanian border, 1957. Directly behind him is the Jordanian occupied Old City of Jerusalem. At his left reads a sign: Danger – No Entry!”
The same factory years later in the bustling city of Ramat Gan.
Already boarding the plane, welcomed by the mostly Jewish flight crew, one can sense the warm Jewish atmosphere. During the Jewish holidays, the Jewish character of the airlines is especially felt. Around the time of the Jewish holidays, such as Rosh HaShanna, Hannuka and Passover, the captain and the crew wish all the passengers a “chag sameach” – a “happy holiday”. Inflight entertainment system includes Jewish songs and video, and even lessons on the Talmud and Jewish law.
A Jewish New Years card produced & distributed by EL AL in the 1950s
(D. Weil Collection)
An EL AL Hannuka poster of the 1970s.
(D. Weil Collection)
Description
The “Kosher” Airline
EL AL has a rabbinic staff that helps the airline deal with Jewish religious matters such as, transferring sefer Torahs from overseas, transporting bodies for burial in Israel, airline scheduling to prevent conflicts with Sabbath and Jewish holidays, and ensuring adherence to Jewish dietary laws (kashrut).
EL AL is the only airlines that serves kosher in-flight meals exclusively. All foods both hot and cold including snacks and beverages that are served on all EL AL flights adhere to kashrut standards. Other airlines serve non-kosher meals, unless one orders a kosher meal in advance. This creates a problem whereby even kosher travellers are often confused and eat or drink certain non-kosher snacks and beverages – assuming that they are kosher. This does not happen on EL AL.
“Remember the Sabbath”
During its early years, El Al sometimes flew on the Sabbath. El AL at the time was an airline owned by the Israel Government. Prior to Menachem Begin’s election as Prime Minister the leadership of Israel including all of its Prime Ministers were mostly secular.
Begin was not Orthodox but held Jewish tradition with the utmost importance. As the airline representing the Jewish State, he made it a priority that it not fly on the Sabbath.
In 1982, Begin succeeded in passing a resolution in Israel’s Knesset against strong opposition. He did so through the power of his great oratory skills. Here are some excerpts of Begin’s riveting speech from the Knesset podium:
Prime Minister Menachem Begin always felt the importance of the Shabbat:
“More than the Jews have kept the Sabbath day, the Sabbath day has kept the Jews.“
“There is no way of assessing the religious, national, social, historical and ethical values of the Sabbath day by the yardstick of financial loss or gain. More than the Jews have kept the Sabbath day, the Sabbath day has kept the Jews.
So are we, in our reborn Jewish State, to allow our Blue and White El Al planes to fly to and fro, as if to broadcast to the world that that there is no Shabbat in Israel? Should we, who by faith and tradition heard the commandment at Sinai, now deliver a message to all and sundry through our El Al planes: ‘No, do not remember the Sabbath day. Forget the Sabbath day! Desecrate the Sabbath day.’ I shudder at the thought that the aircraft of our national carrier have been taking off the world over on the seventh day over many years, in view of Jews and Gentiles alike’.”
Begin’s speech was met with rousing applause, the resolution was passed, and since then, EL AL has been known as the the’306-day-a-year’ airline because it does not operate scheduled passenger service on Shabbat or on major Jewish holidays. Conversely, EL AL’s main competitors do operate flights to and from Tel Aviv on those days.
In 2021 a 27 year old orthodox Jew, Eli Rozenberg and his Kanfei Nesharim Company took control of EL AL. His commitment to Jewish tradition was a sign to many that EL AL would continue to be, “The Jewish Airline”.
Rescue, Aliyah & Defending Jewish Interests
Throughout its history, El Al has been the sole airline to defend and rescue Jews all over the world. In 1960, it was an EL AL crew and aircraft which assisted in the capture of Nazi war criminal Adolf Eichman, transporting him from Buenos Aires, Argentina to Tel Aviv.
Through massive immigrant airlifts, starting with Operation Magic Carpet which brought Yemenite Jews to Israel in 1949-50, and Operation Ali Baba in 1951 where EL AL flights rescued Jews fleeing oppression in Iraq, the airline recalled the Biblical prophecy of returning Jews to Israel “on eagles’ wings”. From 1950 to 1956, EL AL flew more than 160,000 immigrants from Yemen, Iran and India to Israel, as part of Operation Magic Carpet and Operation Ezra and Nehemia.
In 1990, EL AL started airlifting hundreds of thousands of Jews from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe in Operation Exodus, and in May 1991 it carried out the dramatic rescue of thousands of Ethiopian Jews in Operation Solomon. During this last airlift, EL AL set a world record for the most passengers ever carried on a single aircraft – 1,087 on a Boeing 747-200 from Addis Ababa to Israel.
Since 2002, EL AL in partnership with Nefesh B Nefesh, along with other Zionist organizations, has brought tens of thousands of Jewish Immigrants from Western countries home to Israel on Aliyah.
Do We Take the Kotel and Jerusalem for Granted?
The battle for Jerusalem in 1948 was fierce. When the smoke cleared, Jerusalem was divided: The western half became part of the new State of Israel. The eastern half, including the Old City, was occupied by Jordan and the Jews of east Jerusalem were expelled. Under Jordanian rule, access to Jewish holy sites, including the Kotel and the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives was denied.
Jewish families expelled from the Old City by Jordan after Jordanian soldiers took control of east Jerusalem, 1948
1967 – Jerusalem United!
As a result of the Six-Day War in 1967, Israel liberated East Jerusalem – the Kotel and Mt. of Olives were now in Jewish hands. Unlike his 1957 visit to Israel, Bob Jacobs’ wish came true in 1968 when he and his wife came to Israel and prayed at the Kotel. With the Temple Mount in Israel’s hands, the long held Jewish dream of building the Third Temple became more of a reality.
“Kafe Nemes”
The original Elite “Kafe Nemes” (instant coffee) continues to be a popular drink in Israeli households.
Strauss Acquires Elite
In 1997, Elite was purchased by Strauss, Israel’s largest food company, and greatly expanded its line of products. Elite produces the hazelnut filled “Egozi”, the creamy “Pesek Zman”, the crunchy “Kif Kef”, and many new products. It also makes sugarless chocolate bars for diabetics.
Ramat Gan Factory Moves to Upper Nazareth
In 2003, Elite-Strauss closed the Ramat Gan factory and moved its operations to their newer factory in Upper Nazareth where land was cheaper. The factory was expanded and expanded its product line. Today, groups participate in an exciting tour of the factory.
Land Sale to Trump Partners
In 2006, this land was sold to the Crescent Group which involved Donald Trump. The group had plans to develop a 70-story luxury tower building that would carry Trump’s name. The building was never built and the land was sold 18 months later. Today, “Elite Towers” stands on the original factory site.