Toronto, ON - January 19, 2007 - EL AL President Haim Romano visited with several  leading rabbis of Israel on a recent Saturday night to reassure them that EL AL will continue its policy of not flying EL AL passenger aircraft on Shabbat.  The rabbis enthusiastically expressed their satisfaction and urged that now is the time to fly EL AL as it is the world's only airline committed to respecting the holiness of Shabbat and should therefore be travelers' #1 choice when flying to Israel.

“Only EL AL provides a variety of offerings to accommodate the observant traveler,” stated Stanley Morais, General Manager for EL AL in Canada. “EL AL is the only carrier that does not operate any flights between sundown Friday and Saturday (Erev Shabbat until Motzei Shabbat).  Nor does it fly on holidays such as Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Pesach and Shavuot.  This is done out of respect to halachic law that forbids travel on holidays, and out of respect for Jewish tradition.”
 
EL AL celebrates all Jewish holidays; on Hanukah, passengers are served sufganiot (jelly donuts) or latkes (potato pancakes) on flights between North America and Israel.  On other holidays such as Purim, passengers enjoy hamantashen in flight.  In observance of Passover all EL AL planes, kitchens and catering equipment worldwide are specially prepared Kosher for Passover, under rabbinic supervision.  In keeping with the Passover custom, EL AL only uses new and disposable dishes, glassware and cutlery. 

Additionally, EL AL offers a wide selection of kosher food with a wide selection of healthy special meals (including a children's menu), in addition to the regular menu. 
EL AL passengerscan also choose special glatt kosher or Regal meals that are made using only the highest quality ingredients.  These special meals are prepared under kosher supervision under the rabbinic authority of COR.  “EL AL is the only airline flying direct from Canada providing meals prepared fresh daily” stated Morais. The in-flight and ground services staff has been trained to be attentive to the needs of the observant traveler.   
 
In the event of a family emergency, EL AL guarantees immediate family members seats on an EL AL flight to/from Israel when accompanying a casket.  In addition, only EL AL planes are equipped with an "Ohel Hamet" which, in accordance with "Halacha," allows "Kohanim" to travel on flights carrying caskets.

EL AL currently flies 4 weekly non-stops to Tel Aviv on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday. All EL AL flights from Canada are on wide-bodied 767 aircraft and feature EL AL’s world-renowned hospitality.


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For more information, please contact Joel Solish, Sales and Marketing Manager, Canada at 416-967-4222 x 231 or joel@elalcanada.com 
To learn more about EL AL Israel Airlines visit our website at www.elal.com, contact your travel agency or our reservations centre at 416-967-4222 or 1-800-361-6174.