A Jew standing in place at the arrivals terminal at
Manchester International Airport wearing tallis and
tefillin drew suspicions among airport security
personnel. They tried to speak to him, but since he was in
the middle of tefillas Shemoneh Esrei he made no
reply. The confrontation ended without incident, reports
The Jewish Tribune.
Rabbi Yonoson Guttentag, the Jewish community's liaison to
the airport, called for more sensitivity in modes of conduct
in public places, especially airports. Since the terrorist
attack in the London Underground there has been greater
tension at the sight of suspicious behavior in public
transportation facilities and the incident at the Manchester
Airport could have ended in tragedy, chas vesholom.
In September, when a man approached a plane holding a cell
phone in one hand an a Koran in the other security guards at
Manchester Airport fired in his direction to prevent him from
harming the plane.
Following the recent incident Rabbi Guttentag was summoned to
deliver a briefing on Jewish prayer customs to the airport's
ranking security officers. His explanation will be included
on the list of guidelines given to security guards.
Several large airports around the world maintain special
prayer rooms for Jews.
In other news from Manchester, the city's largest hospital,
often chosen by Jewish patients in need of hospitalization,
recently opened a "Shabbos Room" for the staff, patients and
family members. A special food service provides kosher food
for Jewish patients year-round.
