A picture of an Orthodox Jew encased in a giant plastic bag
is causing some debate on the Internet this week, as commenters attempt
to explain the man's unusual traveling garb.
The
picture was posted early Thursday morning with the caption, "An
Orthodox Jew in an airplane with women - so he covers himself with a
plastic bag..."
Ultra-Orthodox Jews adhere to a strict set of
guidelines that include gender segregation in public. In fact, Israeli
airline El Al has noticed an increase in the number of ultra-Orthodox
men asking to switch seats to avoid sitting next to women. One woman
even sued the airlines for allegedly moving her to the back of a plane
after ultra-Orthodox men refused to sit next to her.
However, netizens were quick to point out that the "flying with women" explanation may not be entirely accurate.
"This
has nothing to do with women," one user writes. "He is a cohen,'
descendant from the high holy priests of the temple and they are not
allowed to walk into or fly over a cemetery, which would render them
impure."
In orthodox and Conservative communities, Kohanim
(plural of Kohein) are expected to abstain from coming in contact with
the dead, which includes a prohibition on visiting cemeteries except for
the funerals of close relatives."
As a controversial solution -
not entirely agreed upon even by those in the Jewish Orthodox - the
plastic bag used by the man here, would create a kind of barrier between
the kohein and the surrounding tumah, or impurity. Some flights also go
to great lengths to take specific paths to avoid cemeteries. Passengers
can also be made aware in advance if a body will be aboard the plane in
cargo. Despite what could be seen as a solution, albeit unusual,
flights have been delayed or turned around because they refused to carry
the passenger wrapped in a bag out of safety concerns. Even if they can
be secured by a seat belt, the passengers wouldn't be able to reach an
oxygen mask or quickly escape the plane in the event of an emergency.
Way
around it? Israel's Ben Gurion airport is surrounded by small regional
cemeteries, dotted in red, creating long concern for Orthodox Jews
trying to fly into the airport