Rabbonim have set up an organization called Kanfei Yonah as
an information center about the problem of the flight paths
of airlines that take off from Ben Gurion airport in Israel.
West-bound airplanes fly right over the Holon cemetery,
making it a trip that is prohibited for Kohanim.
So far, the organization is disseminating information in the
greeting message of someone's voice mail. The main number is
055 845-614. The message is in Hebrew, and the last message
was left on Friday erev Shabbos Shemos, 20 Teves. The
organizers are committed to keeping the information up-to-
date within a few hours of any changes, and they say that as
long as the message remains, it means that nothing has
changed. There is an English message at 058 212 434, but it
is not necessarily up-to-date. The information given here is
correct as of Monday evening, 24 Teves. The organizers say
that they hope to improve the arrangements if and when they
can afford it, they hope by next week.
India, including Bombay airport, southern destinations in the
Far East such as Bangkok (not including Hong Kong), and South
Africa, on any kind of airplane, are ok. Kohanim may also fly
to Ovdah near Eilat, but not to the main Eilat city airport,
which has its own problems. They may also not leave from the
Eilat city airport.
To America, kohanim may fly on a 747 that actually lifts off
of the ground between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. It must be stressed
that this information refers to the actual plane type and the
actual take off, and not to the scheduled plane or time.
From the Ovdah airport, only direct flights to Europe are ok.
Flights that stop in Ben Gurion on the way to Europe are not
good.
This information is believed to be the most accurate as the
writing.
