Two of the most prominent rabbinic leaders in the world will fly to the U.S. on Sunday. Rav Yaakov Alter (the Gerrer Rebbe) and Rav Aharon Leib Steineman will travel to the U.S.for a first-time joint effort to raise money for kollel students – married men who continue advanced Torah studies in yeshiva programs.
It is a historic event for the hareidi Orthodox Jewish world, one which has been anticipated for months. Teamwork involving two rabbinic leaders at such a high level in the hareidi religious world is rare.
In accordance with arrangements made for the two men, the plane will have no female flight attendants. The rabbis bought out all the first class tickets in order to avoid seeing businesswomen on the flight. Only men will care for the passengers. No movies will be screened, nor will the TV monitors be visible; El Al agreed to cover the screens on the backs of the first class seats with plastic.
After landing in Los Angeles, the two rabbis will visit Jewish communities on the west coast, culminating in a special event which is anticipated to attract some 10,000 people.
From the U.S., the two rabbis will split up, with the Gerrer Rebbe proceeding to Canada and then back to Israel, and Rav Steineman flying to Central and South America before returning to the Holy Land.
Six Knesset members from the United Torah Judaism party will be present to greet the rabbis at Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday night before they embark on their extraordinary flight.
It is a historic event for the hareidi Orthodox Jewish world, one which has been anticipated for months. Teamwork involving two rabbinic leaders at such a high level in the hareidi religious world is rare.
In accordance with arrangements made for the two men, the plane will have no female flight attendants. The rabbis bought out all the first class tickets in order to avoid seeing businesswomen on the flight. Only men will care for the passengers. No movies will be screened, nor will the TV monitors be visible; El Al agreed to cover the screens on the backs of the first class seats with plastic.
After landing in Los Angeles, the two rabbis will visit Jewish communities on the west coast, culminating in a special event which is anticipated to attract some 10,000 people.
From the U.S., the two rabbis will split up, with the Gerrer Rebbe proceeding to Canada and then back to Israel, and Rav Steineman flying to Central and South America before returning to the Holy Land.
Six Knesset members from the United Torah Judaism party will be present to greet the rabbis at Ben Gurion Airport on Sunday night before they embark on their extraordinary flight.