El Al Cleared for Shabbat Flights to Rescue Sick Israelis Abroad
In the midst of an ongoing national emergency, Israel's national airline has received rabbinical approval to operate rare Saturday flights in order to evacuate critically ill citizens from abroad. These emergency flights, classified as life-saving operations, underscore the extreme medical and humanitarian needs facing Israelis during wartime.
As Israel navigates a time of national emergency and war, the country’s flagship airline, El Al, has been granted special permission by the Chief Rabbinate to operate a series of emergency medical flights during the upcoming Shabbat. These operations are categorized as “life-saving missions” (pikuach nefesh), allowing for rare halachic exceptions to Sabbath flight restrictions.
The decision was confirmed by El Al on Thursday evening, noting that only three flights will operate during Shabbat, departing from Larnaca (Cyprus) and Athens (Greece). These flights are intended exclusively for Israeli citizens abroad who are facing acute medical emergencies and whose return to Israel is deemed necessary to preserve life.
Each passenger must be pre-approved by a senior Israeli medical specialist, specifically one with extensive experience managing major hospitals in Israel. Only individuals whose conditions meet the threshold of life-saving necessity are allowed to board. Every case is individually reviewed and verified both medically and halachically, in full cooperation with El Al’s internal rabbi and Israel’s Chief Rabbinate.
In a statement, the airline explained:
“In light of numerous life-threatening cases and urgent medical requests that require immediate return to Israel, El Al will operate special emergency flights during the upcoming Sabbath. These flights are classified as medical emergency missions falling under the halachic category of pikuach nefesh.”
Importantly, the flights are free of charge for all eligible passengers. This policy underscores both the urgency of the situation and the humanitarian values guiding these actions.
The Chief Rabbis who authorized the decision are Rabbi David Yosef (Sephardi Chief Rabbi, also known as the Rishon LeZion) and Rabbi Kalman Bar, who together ruled that under current circumstances, these exceptional measures comply with Jewish law.
This decision reflects the unique convergence of halacha, medical ethics, and national responsibility in times of crisis, when saving lives takes precedence over even the most sacred prohibitions.