When Delta Flight 235 from Tel Aviv to New York was forced to divert to Michigan on Monday because of severe blizzard conditions in the New York area, hundreds of passengers suddenly found themselves stranded far from home. But what could have been a difficult and stressful experience quickly turned into a powerful display of achdus and chessed, led by the Detroit Jewish community.
Shortly after 1 p.m. on Monday, Hatzalah of Michigan was notified that the flight had been diverted. Realizing that many Jewish passengers would soon be landing in Detroit with no clear arrangements, Hatzalah coordinators immediately began reaching out to local chessed organizations and community leaders.
Organizers were able to make contact with a passenger on the flight. Within minutes, WhatsApp groups were created connecting volunteers, coordinators, and travelers. Information began flowing, needs were identified, and the kehilla mobilized.
Almost instantly, families opened their homes, kitchens were put into action, and volunteers began arranging transportation. Dozens of people worked simultaneously to prepare meals, organize places to sleep, and secure buses to transport the stranded passengers. What might normally take days of planning was accomplished in a matter of hours.
As word spread that an entire kehilla was preparing to take responsibility for the travelers, the airline took notice. Delta Air Lines soon announced that it would provide complimentary hotel rooms for all passengers.
With lodging arrangements in place, the focus shifted to the many other needs the passengers still had. Families with young children required formula, diapers, wipes, and baby food. Others needed meals, drinks, and basic supplies. Some children needed games and toys to keep them occupied after a long and exhausting journey.
Through the coordination of Hatzalah and community volunteers, every one of these needs was addressed – an incredible display of achdus and ahavas yisroel.
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11 Responses
No other nation in the world has such a thing of people coming to help complete strangers in the time of need, this is the Jewish people. And they hate us because they’re not part of it, but they don’t try to emulate us
Really impressive! Detroit isn’t a little shtetl anymore.
@rebEmes
There have been times when gentiles (whose faith started as a break-away from Judaism) have stepped up to help random strangers. But Klal Yisrael’s chessed is by far in a league of its own.
Regarding hate, some do hate because the Torah is the world’s conscience. But many others do not hate, and some even admire, B”H.
It is of course one of the defining characteristics of a Jew: Baishanim, Rachamanim and gomlei chasasim.
Wow! Really mi k’amcha yisrael! I am so proud to be apart of Your nation!
כי לא מחשבותי מחשבותיכם
As a human, it’s hard to comprehend how/why Moshiach is not yet here.
ושביה בצדקה
Can some please send this to TYLER!
It’s not his tax dollars! It’s our dollars!
@rebEmes – This is amazing chesed and a kiddish Hashem, please don’t ruin it by speaking falsehoods. If you really think “No other nation in the world has such a thing” look up the story of Gander, Newfoundland on September 11th.
chaimss has a very valid point: The people of Gander came forward to others they had no ostensible connection to. The people of Detroit came forward to those to whom they have a very strong connection. Would the good Yidden have come forward so generously if a plane from one of the Arab nations had suddenly been diverted? It is better to keep our dedication to our own private.
rebemes
they can’t emulate it because they did not inherit those middos from Avraham Yitzchok and Yaakov
@chaims,
I know what you’re probably trying to do, but No other nation in the world do you have to google in order to come up with an (once in 25 years) instance that rivals what transpired here…
Re. Jerusalem Observer and Chaim:
“The people of Gander came forward to others they had no ostensible connection to. The people of Detroit came forward to those to whom they have a very strong connection.”
Actually, that sums it all up. What is the source of that “very strong connection” between Yidden who never met or knew each other before? Hashem and His Torah. Because קודשא בריך הוא אורייתא וישראל חד הוא, we really all are one and can feel it. It’s very nice that the people of Gander, during an epic Earth-shaking tragedy, helped out people stranded in their town. But how many do Chessed regularly as a way of life to an extent remotely close to what Yidden do? Not just when something huge happens. Even those Gentiles who DO help others [and probably the good folks of Gander too] usually do so because they learned some of the Torah’s values [which they even refer to as Judeo-whatever values.]
“Would the good Yidden have come forward so generously if a plane from one of the Arab nations had suddenly been diverted?”
Did Rashida and her buddies from Dearbornstan come forward so generously that day to help anyone? If there were Gentiles on that plane who wanted some of those sandwiches, I’m sure they weren’t turned away. Yad Sarah (just one example) has branches in completely Arab cities and towns in Israel.
“It is better to keep our dedication to our own private.”
Again, what makes perfect strangers “our own” is our shared connection to Hashem and His Torah, which is what אהבת ישראל is all about. Not some sort of tribal who knows what. The reality is that Jews in general are the biggest donors, helpers and volunteers for all kinds of causes, including those that help Gentiles.