It was an emergency response of a totally different kind for the volunteers in the Israel-based ZAKA organisation.

While the blizzards play havoc with flight schedules in Europe, ZAKA – best known for its immediate response in times of emergency and tragedy – moved into high gear late Friday afternoon. Word came in of a Swissair flight, delayed several hours by the snow, that was due to arrive in Ben-Gurion Airport less than an hour before the onset of Shabbat, with dozens of Orthodox Jewish families who would be unable to travel on to their final destination in time.

The ZAKA organisation, which had been alerted by concerned family members who had nowhere else to turn, sprang into action to make all the necessary arrangements for the passengers to spend Shabbat at the airport.

Working against the clock, they coordinated with Rabbi Nissim Elimelech, Rabbi of Ben Gurion airport, the border police and Rabbi Yochanan Chayut, Rabbi of El Al (despite the fact that the flight in question was operated by Swiss Air). The ZAKA volunteers from the Gush Dan and Kfar Chabad areas helped organize the special Shabbat, finding host families for those stranded passengers with children, securing a hall for the passengers’ use in the airport and furnishing it with mattresses and blankets procured from the emergency supplies of the Petach Tikva municipality, as well as a Sefer Torah for Shabbat services from the airport synagogue. Food for all three Shabbat meals was donated by a Bnei Brak caterer and bakery.

“It was a Shabbat of re-awakening,” said ZAKA volunteer Baraleh Yakobowitz. “Everyone sat around the table and sang Shabbat songs, while hundreds of curious bystanders saw how we sanctify the Shabbat and the Creator. It was a wonderful Shabbat.”

ZAKA Chairman and Founder: “ZAKA recently completed a day of training for its special EL AL unit at the airport, which is ready to act in any emergency. Little did we think that, just a few weeks later, we would be dealing with a situation such as this!