Sephardic Chief Rabbi Rav Dovid Yosef has made clear to Transportation Minister Miri Regev and executives at El Al that Jewish law prohibits operating repatriation flights on Shabbos for Israelis stranded overseas, according to a statement from his office reported by The Times of Israel.
Rav Yosef’s position comes as the country works to return an estimated 150,000 Israelis who were left abroad after Israel closed its airspace early Friday in response to the escalating conflict with Iran.
In light of the emergency, the Transportation Ministry, along with Israeli airlines El Al, Arkia, and Israir, have been coordinating efforts to launch special return flights, which are expected to begin tomorrow depending on security developments.
Although El Al normally halts operations over Shabbos, the airline and Minister Regev approached Rav Yosef to ask whether halachic exceptions could be made under the principle of pikuach nefesh which can override Shabbos prohibitions.
However, Rav Yosef ruled that the situation does not meet the criteria of immediate danger to life, and therefore, flights should not be operated by El Al on Shabbos.
A spokesperson for Minister Regev clarified that the Chief Rabbi’s directive applies only to El Al. “The rabbi’s prohibition is specifically for El Al,” the spokesperson stated. “We will continue with whoever can fly or sail.”
Other carriers such as Arkia, which does operate on Shabbos, will be handling rescue flights. Additionally, the Transportation Ministry has arranged for Mano Maritime to run two cruise ship journeys from Cyprus to help ferry stranded Israeli citizens home by sea.
{Matzav.com Israel}
They are not “rescue” flights as there is no danger. Shabbos applies to all, not just one airline. The Chief Rabbi gave his ruling to the Israeli government and, as such applies to the entire operation, all airlines and all carriers.
Shame on Minister Regev! NO! The Chief Rabbi’s directive applies to ALL flights coming in or going out of Israel on Shabbos. Gedolei Yisroel, esp. Rav Dov Yosef shlit”a, should protest this immense chillul Hashem.