Watch: Pilot Proudly Dons Tefillin on Aircraft – Here’s the Story.

By Mushi Fogelman

I boarded a plane at 6 am from Los Angeles to NY this morning. It was too early to daven before we left. I didn’t want to daven at 2:30 when we landed because I was going straight to ohel. I made sure I had an exit row bulkhead; I knew that with this plane configuration, I would have plenty of room to daven. About an hour after takeoff, I stood up, took out my tallis and tefillin, and started davening. The plane was pretty quiet, with most people sleeping, and it was a really pleasant davening experience. As I was taking off my Rashi tefillin, a stewardess approached. I could see she was uncomfortable and said, “You know you will have to sit down soon.” I told her I was just about done and thought nothing more of it.

As I looked up, a gentleman was standing and talking to his son, pointing toward me. I heard him say “tefillin,” and then he came over. He told me that his community had a program where wounded Israeli soldiers came to stay in people’s houses, and the soldier who stayed in his house put on tefillin every day. The soldier gave his tefillin to the young boy, whose bar mitzvah was in two months, under the condition that he promises to put them on. While we were talking, another steward came to where we were standing and was hovering, making us uncomfortable. We both thought it was strange, but he clearly wanted the conversation to be over. The gentleman went back to his seat, and I put on Rabbeinu Tam.

I saw something going on at the front of the plane, and then the captain came out of his cabin, and I figured trouble was coming. As I was wrapping up the tefillin, the captain came up behind me, and I thought, “Here goes.” He whispered in my ear, “Listen, if you need to daven or learn or whatever, go to the galley. I told them to make space. These goyim have no idea what’s going on.” Realizing he was Jewish, of course, I asked him to put on tefillin. He said, “I can’t, I gotta fly the plane,” and went back to his cabin.

The plane landed, and I jumped up so I could be the first to the door. I knew the captain would be standing there to say goodbye to everyone. I walked up to him and said, “I have a favor to ask, I’ll wait till everyone leaves.” He said, “Ask now, I’m leaving as soon as everyone is off.” I said, “I want you to put on tefillin. It will take 60 seconds.” He said, “Impossible.” I said, “I’m going to NY for the yartzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe. As a matter of fact, I’m going straight there. Can you do me a personal favor and put them on so I have something positive to share with the Rebbe?” He stuck out his arm and said, “Let’s do it. Let everyone see.” His name is Chaim Boruch Ben Leah. I should share it with the Rebbe.

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