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Last week I wrote about the abundance of kind acts in
Israel. And just this week, we read about a rare, wonderful and heartwarming
episode.
Israel. And just this week, we read about a rare, wonderful and heartwarming
episode.
Inbar, a young, 11-year-old girl from Rehovot has cancer. She is
given a special opportunity to go to Camp Simcha in New York, a sleepover camp
for children with pediatric cancer. Together with her parents she filled in the
forms, had all the medical tests completed and counted the days until she,
together with 29 other Israeli children, would fly to New York. Camp Simcha is
dedicated to uplifting the spirits of children with cancer. Under medical
supervision, campers enjoy talent shows, carnivals, helicopter rides and
many other fun activities.
given a special opportunity to go to Camp Simcha in New York, a sleepover camp
for children with pediatric cancer. Together with her parents she filled in the
forms, had all the medical tests completed and counted the days until she,
together with 29 other Israeli children, would fly to New York. Camp Simcha is
dedicated to uplifting the spirits of children with cancer. Under medical
supervision, campers enjoy talent shows, carnivals, helicopter rides and
many other fun activities.
Inbar boards the plane and sits with the new friends she has
made. They chat excitedly and wait for takeoff. As standard
procedure, Chai Lifeline staff collect the children’s passports. Inbar’s is
missing. Everyone in the group frantically searches for the missing passport.
In a scramble, other passengers on the plane start to search. They alert the
El Al flight attendants who also look under the seats and in the overhead bins.
made. They chat excitedly and wait for takeoff. As standard
procedure, Chai Lifeline staff collect the children’s passports. Inbar’s is
missing. Everyone in the group frantically searches for the missing passport.
In a scramble, other passengers on the plane start to search. They alert the
El Al flight attendants who also look under the seats and in the overhead bins.
The ground crew retraces Inbar’s steps from the terminal to
the plane. No sign. Without a passport she cannot fly, so they escort a tearful Inbar off the plane. She is heartbroken. Here is
an opportunity that may never come again.
the plane. No sign. Without a passport she cannot fly, so they escort a tearful Inbar off the plane. She is heartbroken. Here is
an opportunity that may never come again.
As the plane leaves the terminal and heads down the runway,
the pilot is given permission to take off. Suddenly, the girl who was sitting next to Inbar finds the
passport in her own backpack. She holds it up high like a trophy and everyone is overjoyed.
The flight attendants tell
the pilot who stops the plane and radios the flight control tower to explain the situation. The pilot and the airport staff confer and after 45 minutes, they decide to let the
plane come back for Inbar.
the pilot is given permission to take off. Suddenly, the girl who was sitting next to Inbar finds the
passport in her own backpack. She holds it up high like a trophy and everyone is overjoyed.
The flight attendants tell
the pilot who stops the plane and radios the flight control tower to explain the situation. The pilot and the airport staff confer and after 45 minutes, they decide to let the
plane come back for Inbar.
With tears in her eyes, Inbar sees the plane turn around and
head back toward the terminal. It looks likes it’s coming back for her! The plane
parks outside, the doors are unlatched doors and, like royalty, Inbar is
escorted aboard amidst cheers, clapping and choked tears. The director of the
Israeli branch of Chai Lifeline said all the passengers shared Inbar’s
excitement and that this was one of the greatest moments he has ever
experienced.
head back toward the terminal. It looks likes it’s coming back for her! The plane
parks outside, the doors are unlatched doors and, like royalty, Inbar is
escorted aboard amidst cheers, clapping and choked tears. The director of the
Israeli branch of Chai Lifeline said all the passengers shared Inbar’s
excitement and that this was one of the greatest moments he has ever
experienced.
This kindness is unheard off in all international airports
and on most airlines–especially after the fear and threat created in our post
9/11 world. Once a plane taxis out for takeoff, it simply leaves. It cannot
turn around for a passenger like a cab. And it does not matter if the
circumstances are dire or sad or tragic. The plane has a schedule to keep and
money is lost when it sits on a runway for too long. A passenger is a seat
number and a booking code, not a child who is suffering from cancer.
and on most airlines–especially after the fear and threat created in our post
9/11 world. Once a plane taxis out for takeoff, it simply leaves. It cannot
turn around for a passenger like a cab. And it does not matter if the
circumstances are dire or sad or tragic. The plane has a schedule to keep and
money is lost when it sits on a runway for too long. A passenger is a seat
number and a booking code, not a child who is suffering from cancer.
But on El Al, according to this beautiful story, we are all
one. We are human beings who laugh and who cry and who, unfortunately, suffer.
The pilot, the flight attendants and the passengers on this flight also hope their own children will be healthy, happy and able to enjoy
every wonderful opportunity that life gives us.
one. We are human beings who laugh and who cry and who, unfortunately, suffer.
The pilot, the flight attendants and the passengers on this flight also hope their own children will be healthy, happy and able to enjoy
every wonderful opportunity that life gives us.
The proof is in the eyes of a
smiling, joyous Inbar who is, right now, enjoying each minute she has at Camp Simcha.
smiling, joyous Inbar who is, right now, enjoying each minute she has at Camp Simcha.
Israelis’ hearts are full. Be it performing acts of kindness or helping the sick, they insist on taking that extra runway to make a crying child smile.
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