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Waiting in JFK airport
Endless hours of waiting for my next flight.
My adventure started off at 6:30 am Saturday June 3rd. My first leg of the journey from Austin, TX to JFK airport was comfortable and enjoyable. I arrived at JFK at noon but I had to wait till 7:00 pm to meet my tour group and receive our tickets for our flight on El Al airlines. After receiving our tickets from our tour leader we then had to pass through El Al's customs and security screeners. The security personnel of El Al grilled my questions about why I wanted to go to Israel. Asked me what Jewish holidays I celebrated and what did they mean. And some other personal questions. Finally we boarded the plane at 11:30 pm and were seated in our accommadations for the next 10 1/2 hour flight. With 6 hours of flying left, I couldn't sit any longer and had to go stand up and stretch in the back of the plane. Now during this time I was standing up in the back, all the Ultra Orthadox Jews started to come to the back of the plane also in order to do their prayers. I am not a religious person but one of the Orthadox Jews asked me if I wanted to say the prayers. At first hesitant because the did not what to do I went along with it. He went about wrapping my arm and putting a Kippah on my head. I slowing said the prayers in Hebrew with his help. It was a nice but unexpected experience on an airplane. Still not wanting to sit down, I stood up in the back for another two hours while people slept on board. During this time we passed of Europe and France where I had a wonderful view of the Alps. Finally after 10 1/2 hours we arrived in Tel Aviv, Israel at 5:30 pm. Our tour group was whisked away to our bus and driven to the North of Israel to our hotel to sleep off our Jetlag.
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Rosalind Horowitz
non-member comment
Aha, you arrived safely
Dear Herb, Just read your description of the El Al flight. Glad to see the religious Jews are being friendly and taking care of you. IMAGINE YOU PRAYED SO MANY THOUSANDS OF MILES IN THE AIR! Wow! I hope you are rested up and enjoying your travels. RH