MID-FLIGHT RESCUE

The Weitzman family lived in Boston where their son Chaim was born. The parents were not generally religious although they did keep a few mitzvahs like kiddush on Friday night, a Pesach seder, fasting on Yom Kippur, etc.

After a few years, the father got an enticing job offer to be the manager of a large company in Hong Kong. The family packed and moved to Hong Kong where the father began his job and was successful. The move improved their lot financially, but not at all spiritually.

Tradition was slowly forgotten and Chaim went to the local high school and was friends with non-Jews. When he graduated high school, he registered to attend Oxford University in England where he almost completely forgot his Jewish origins.

He did well in his studies and had a gentile girlfriend. Their friendship grew and they decided to marry. Chaim did not think his parents would mind and even if they would, that would not change his decision.

He called his parents and happily told them, “I am about to get married!”

His parents’ excitement quickly vanished when they heard whom their dear son planned on marrying.

Although they had neglected mitzva observance, they still felt strongly about this. How could their son, a Jewish boy, marry a non-Jew and cut himself off from the Jewish people? His children would be non-Jews and they couldn’t bear the thought.

They decided they would do everything and anything to change his mind.

“Chaim, you cannot marry her; she’s not Jewish. You are Jewish. It’s completely forbidden. Even the worst Jew cannot marry a non-Jew!” They tried to convince him in all sorts of ways but he wasn’t interested. He was determined to go ahead with his plans.

In order to calm things down, he decided to postpone the wedding a bit. Maybe his parents would get used to the idea. But as the date approached, his arguments with his parents only intensified. Chaim postponed the wedding again and again until he finally decided, enough!

“I am getting married next week in London,” he informed his parents on a trip to Boston on his vacation. “You are invited to my wedding. I would be thrilled to have you come. I respect your wishes though, if you decide not to attend.”

“If you marry a non-Jew, we are not coming. We will have nothing to do with it,” his parents said sadly.

“So don’t,” said Chaim and he continued his preparations for the wedding.

As soon as vacation was over, he took a flight to England. The flight made several stops.

Chaim made himself comfortable as the plane ascended after the final stopover. He was finally heading for England and would be living his dream. His watch showed that only a little time remained until they landed.

He nodded off. Then he suddenly heard an odd announcement over the sound system. “If there is a Jew on the plane, he is asked to approach one of the staff.”

Chaim pinched himself to make sure he wasn’t hallucinating. What a bizarre announcement! He looked around him. All the people were English, American and other gentiles. None of them had a Jewish face. Just he did. Until now, he felt comfortable in their presence. Because of the education he received he did not know or realize that he was completely different.

Why was this announcement made on a flight that almost entirely consisted of non-Jews? He decided to get up and find out what this was about. He went over to a steward who, looking very uncomfortable, led him to the front of the plane to the business section.

“I really apologize,” said the steward squirming. “We never make announcements like that but … we have someone here who pestered us from the beginning of the flight saying he must meet a Jew who was certainly on the plane. He said he tried looking by himself but didn’t find anyone. Of course, we refused, but now, toward the end of the flight, he just doesn’t leave us alone so we made the announcement …”

Chaim saw a religious Jew with a beard and black hat and suit and looked at him with astonishment mixed with curiosity.

“If you don’t want to talk to him, you can go back to your seat,” said the steward, once again apologizing for the unusual situation.

“It’s fine, I’ll talk to him,” said Chaim who was extremely curious about what this religious man had to say to him and how he knew of Chaim’s existence.

“I am a businessman who deals with precious stones,” said the man, introducing himself. “I often travel the world. A week ago, I had a private audience with the Lubavitcher Rebbe since I am close to him. I told him that I was traveling to Hong Kong and London. Before I left his room, he handed me a Tanya and blessed me. Then he took another Tanya and said, ‘Sometimes, even on a flight, you meet Jews, so you should have another Tanya with you.’”

“What is this book? What is it about?” asked Chaim, who had never heard of the Tanya.

The time was too short for explanations but Chaim didn’t give up. He opened the book at random and asked the man to translate at least a few lines for him into English.

The book was opened to page 22 and the man read and translated:

“Even the worst Jew gives up his life to sanctify G-d’s name …”

Chaim took the book and returned to his place with these words giving him no peace. They reminded him of what his parents had said, “Even the worst Jew is forbidden to marry a non-Jew.”

He realized that Someone was directing him and indicating to him that he had better save himself, immediately.

Two days of soul-searching went by. Then he called his fiancee and told her, “I don’t feel right about this marriage. I need to think about it …”

Then he called his parents and told them what happened. They were ecstatic.

“I think you should fly to New York to Grandpa so he can teach you a little about what it means to be a Jew and why it is so serious to marry a non-Jew,” his father said.

Chaim liked the idea and flew to New York to learn about his roots. The Tanya which saved him remained with him. He eventually married a Jewish woman from a traditional home. ■