New York – In an article in the New York Times, recent tensions aboard flights involving ultra-Orthodox religious values are how airlines are facing a growing issue when religious principles of the Haredi conflict with business is explored.
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In the article “Aboard Flights, Conflicts Over Seat Assignments and Religion,” (http://nyti.ms/1DonK5D) the paper addresses the recent trips between the U.S. and Israel where flights have been disrupted or delayed when ultra-Orthodox men have refused to sit next to women who are night their wives. Some find no problem with it, such as Francesca Hogi, 40, who switched her seat. But some find the request to be sexist, and refuse to move based on their own principles, such as 42-year-old Laura Heywood, who refused to switch seats with her husband and give up his aisle seat, where he’s more comfortable, so that an ultra-Orthodox man didn’t have to sit next to her.
The incidents have sparked online petitions and debates on social media, and have plagued airlines with questions of how to handle the disruptions.
Rabbi Avi Shafran, director of public affairs at Agudath Israel of America, an organization that represents the ultra-Orthodox community, says media reports make it seem like the instances of seat-switching requests happen much more than they actually do.
But airlines and travelers have a different opinion, and say that the instances are real and are happening often.
Three weeks ago my United flight was delayed about 40 minutes because of this craziness.
when we grew up none made a fuss about these stuff. for some reason the older gedolim never instructed their talmidim/ chasidim to insist on separate seating. I am not sure why this dor has to be holier than thou.
As a side note my chasidisha rabbeim yes chasdish drove the NYC city busses daily to get to yeshiva. Today no we can only go on Hiemisha busses. I guess it all the smae stupidity.
Agudath israel is considered to be the ultra orthodox representative ?Where do the chasidim fit in?
Without judging if it’s correct or not, please note that the media coverage is not balanced.
Many Moslems (ultra-orthodox Moslems?), are even more adamant about sitting next to women.
No mention in the media, especially not in the Times.
to #2 and all anti’s – 40 years ago the goyim were dressed decently wheras now there’s no shame in them and you can’t even make a bracha next to them…….
For people who have a seating issue,do not fly with United or Delta if u cannot get the seat you prefer.
I will bet you that Qatar and Turkish airlines is anyway more hospitable and that is another option,and there are plenty of seats available
This Dor just does not understand the concept of “Al -Tehi -Chossid-Shoteh”,and that applies to other aspects not just seating on airlines and buses,
nobody WANTS to point the finger at chareidim and say they are wrong. but anyone who has ever been on an average El-Al flight knows that they delay every trip with their seat-switching nonsense, its not required by halacha, and gedolim before us have sat next to women when there was no choice and didnt cause a chilul hashem. why are these guys any better? and whats the excuse for standing the entire flight and never letting the flight attendants get through? why cant they sit still for 5 minutes? lets be realisitic, we have to give and be able to accept criticism or it will never stop!
If one reads the comments on the Times website it quite hits you in the face.
“Many Moslems (ultra-orthodox Moslems?), are even more adamant about sitting next to women. “
Really? I fly in a lot of Islamic countries. I have never seen this. On the other hand, I have never seen Jews cause this sort of trouble either.
How about the airlines companies trying to accommodate this request – justified or not? I’ll bet that any airline showing a willingness to work with their customers sensitivities – again, without going into if it’s correct or not – will become more profitable. Those people will prefer them!
It’s not just the men,I’m an orthodox woman. I also prefer not to sit next to a man, but, I won’t make a fuss if I am seated next to one. On one of my flights, I had an aisle seat as I had requested, but I was sitting next to an Israeli couple and the husband sat next to me and his wife had the window. I asked nicely if they would switch, but they didn’t want to,so I just left it at that because they weren’t frum and I wasn’t going to start up with them. I just acted friendly so there should be no animosity between us.