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NEWS
Israel-Bound Travelers Carrying Daled Minim Not Detained by Airport Security
by Yated Ne'eman Staff
Many Jews who flew from the US to Eretz Yisroel for Succos made their way unimpeded through airport security checks with daled minim in hand, thanks to efforts by Agudas Yisroel of America.
Passengers on flights to nearly any destination have become familiar with the airport restrictions on creams and liquids in carry-on baggage, but the regulations on daled minim may be less familiar. According to R' Abba Cohen, head of Aguda's Washington bureau, travelers set to fly to Israel began contacting the bureau, concerned that they would not be permitted to take their daled minim onboard, especially the lulav. Their concerns were not unfounded since airport security personnel had indicated that carrying such items would be problematic.
R' Cohen presented the problem to the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration, telling senior officials that before and during Succos, hundreds of travelers would be boarding planes with palm branches that vaguely resemble spears. He went on to explain how daled minim are used during prayers and to preclude security incidents he advised the TSA to notify airline and airport personnel what to expect, saying the issue was important to both the TSA and observant Jews.
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