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Jan. 13, 2006
A ready answer to every inquiry
Israel's "airport rabbi" oversees thousands of congregants
at multiple synagogue sites.
EDGAR ASHER ISRANET
As rabbi of the Israel Airport Authority (IAA), Rabbi Nissim Elmaliach
has one of the most interesting, challenging and demanding rabbinical
jobs in Israel. His community is wherever the IAA has a facility,
and his congregation numbers in the thousands.
Elmaliach was born in Israel and studied at a Lubavitch yeshivah
that his grandfather built in Kyriat Gat. He also studied at a Chabad
yeshivah in New York before receiving semichah (rabbinical ordination)
at Midrash Sephardi in Jerusalem's Old City. From there, he was
sent to an Orthodox community in Las Vegas. During his three years
in Las Vegas, Elmaliach, by then married, had two children. He joined
the IAA when he returned to Israel in 1998 and became the new airport
rabbi three years ago.
There are nine synagogues at Ben Gurion Airport in Jerusalem –
including two for passengers at Terminal 3. Other synagogues, which
can be found in buildings located away from the new terminal, are
for airport workers only. For example, there is a synagogue in the
facility that deals with luggage handling and cabin maintenance.
There are synagogues in the buildings housing the airport fire departments.
The absorption ministry has its own synagogue, as does the general
maintenance and gardens department. The section dealing with imports
and exports also maintains its own synagogue in yet another building.
There has been a rabbi overseeing IAA facilities – which also
include smaller airports, such as Haifa and Eilat, as well as all
the border crossings – for 40 years.
Elmaliach's job can require him to be at the airport at almost anytime.
For example, a family may need his guidance when a body is sent
to Israel for burial. He noted that usually a deceased body can
be released from the airport within half an hour of its landing
at the airport but, he added, "the families need, at these
trying times, help and advice to make the procedure as easy and
non-traumatic as possible. I will, if necessary, help with the paperwork,
particularly if the family wishes the deceased to be buried before
sundown."
He said he wants people who need the services of a rabbi "to
have an address to call on.
"For instance," he said, "I get a lot of requests
from people who need a minyan to say Kaddish. I get e-mails from
all over the world asking what are the times of shacharit,
minchah and ma'ariv [morning, afternoon and evening
prayers, respectively]. We also arrange places for groups that want
to pray."
Elmaliach gives regular shiurim (religious study sessions)
at departments all over the airport.
"I go to the workers," he said, "as it would take
far too much time for them to come across the airport complex for
a short shiur. It is always in the workers' free time; they can
rest, have a snack or study a little, as they wish. At minchah,
I try and go to a different synagogue to give a short sermon after
the service. You would be surprised how very popular it is."
Elmaliach's involvement in the kashrut field is mainly advisory.
"I'm not a mashgiach [kashrut supervisor]," he
said. "First of all, the eating places at the airport are fast-food
establishments and coffee houses. [They are] not required as a condition
of operating to have a kashrut licence, but most do, because most
of the Israelis, even those who may not be so strict over Shabbat
observance, do care about kashrut."
Therefore, many of the owners of these establishments ask for Elmaliach's
advice on matters of kashrut.
As a religious figure at the airport, the rabbi is often approached
rather furtively to answer a "difficult" personal problem.
Many times, airport employees "trying to find religion"
speak privately with Elmaliach to get some help and encouragement
in their quest to lead a more observant Jewish life.
"I am here for all the travellers and airport employees if
they need me," said Elmaliach. He certainly regards himself
as a rabbi with a mission.
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