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NEWS
Dozens of Chareidi Passengers Land in Israel Minutes Before Shabbos
By Yechiel Sever
A very brief span of time separated some 80 chareidi passengers from chilul Shabbos after their plane was delayed at takeoff in Zurich. The passengers, who were very anxious during the course of the flight, landed in Israel just minutes before candlelighting time and some spent all of Shabbos at the airport, where mattresses were laid out in a room and basic Shabbos needs were hastily arranged.
Following the incident, Vaadas HaRabbonim LeInyonei Kedushas HaShabbos reissued a notice warning the public not to book flights scheduled to arrive shortly before Shabbos. "Even without the mishap that took place, a flight itinerary with an arrival time close to candlelighting time is against the directives of the rabbonim," reads the notice.
The flight, operated by the Swiss national carrier and originally scheduled to depart early Friday morning, did not leave Zurich until midday. When it became clear the plane would land just minutes before Shabbos, arrangements were made to bring some of the passengers with small children to nearby Kfar Chabad, while another group was forced to spend Shabbos at the airport.
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