CHANUKA LIGHTS AT OVER 30,000 FEET
December 13, 2017By Yaron Tzvi
Lighting a fire on a plane is a serious offense in the laws of air travel. The fact that a Chassid received permission to light a menorah, and to watch the lights for at least half an hour, is no less than a miracle. Here is how it happened:
In order to hear this amazing story, we spoke with musician, R’ Avi Piamenta, who performs around the world as per the Rebbe’s instruction to him and his brother Yossi a”h, “Concerts such as the aforementioned (a few times a year for each one of them) are desirable etc.” Over the years, R’ Avi has spread Judaism through his concerts in many countries such as India, South America, Mexico, the Soviet Union, England, Singapore and even Turkey. He finds himself in fascinating places and encounters, which he would never come upon any other way.
“The unusual events I’m talking about happened on Chanuka 5760. I was invited by R’ YY Gutnick of Australia to an annual concert that is held in Caulfield Park in Melbourne, a huge event that is called ‘Chanuka in the Park’ and takes place on the first day of Chanuka. Thousands of people attend it, including well-known public figures. That year, I was scheduled to give the main performance.
“I had to plan my itinerary very carefully so as to arrive in Melbourne before Shabbos. It’s a 24 hour flight and Shabbos begins eight or nine hours before us. After making calculations, I decided to leave Eretz Yisroel on Wednesday night on a flight to Hong Kong, and from there to take another flight to Australia. It’s an expensive trip. I figured I would readily make it to Melbourne in time for Shabbos and then perform Sunday night. But Hashem had other plans.
“My brother-in-law, Yehoshua Lorber of Kfar Chabad, took me to the airport. Although we left on time, we arrived too late for the flight because of a ‘suspicious object’ on the highway. The police stopped traffic exactly at our car. All my pleading with the police to let me go did not help. When I got to the airline counter, I was told the plane doors were closed and I could not board. This meant not only a large loss of money, but also the cancellation of an event attended by thousands of people, after advertising about my appearance.
“We found an alternate flight leaving in the morning and arriving in Hong Kong close to Shabbos. I had no idea how I would pay for this flight. My brother-in-law brought me back to Kfar Chabad to rest for a few hours. When we arrived there, I wrote to the Rebbe and asked for a bracha that I arrive on time, in peace, and that the concert be successful and impact on people and bring them close to Torah and Chassidus and the Rebbe. I also asked that I be able to spread the idea of the Seven Noahide Laws. I opened to a letter full of brachos, one of them for a dinner that was about to take place in Melbourne.
“We went back to the airport. I had a problem paying for another ticket to Australia with my credit card. I met Rabbi Yisroel Maidanchek at the airport who was just returning from mivtzaim. His credit card should not have been able to authorize such a sum, but surprisingly, it worked. I promised to return the money within a few days.
“I boarded the plane with water, almonds, and various other things including my instruments, a flute and organ. The plane taxied down the runway in Hong Kong a few minutes before Shabbos. That meant I would not make it to the Chabad House before Shabbos and I would have to spend the next 25 hours in the international terminal of Hong Kong. After looking around a little, I found a place to put my things. Then I had to light Shabbos candles and the first light of Chanuka. Thank G-d I remembered to bring along bottles of oil and wicks.
“I lit the first light of Chanuka and then two Shabbos candles, and began Kabbalas Shabbos. I was sure that within minutes, security would come and order me to put out the flames, but to my great surprise, nobody did. I davened in peace.
“While I davened, a priest sat down opposite me and began asking me questions. I motioned to him that I could not talk in the middle of my prayers and he should wait until I finished. When I finished davening, I sat down and we began talking. He brought up the topic of his ‘savior.’ To his great surprise, I confidently told him that the real Messiah is the Lubavitcher Rebbe and that the time for redemption has arrived, the process has begun, and it certainly does not involve Yoshke. He tried to bring proofs from the Bible, but despite my lack of in-depth knowledge of Tanach, Hashem put the right words in my mouth. I quoted the Rebbe on Moshiach and the Geula and the Rebbe’s prophecy. I took the opportunity to emphasize the importance of the Seven Noahide Laws and the Rebbe’s influence in this.
“Since I had plenty of time, I spoke about the Rebbe’s Jewish birthday being Education Day in the United States, as a token of appreciation to the Rebbe’s contribution in spreading the Noahide Laws. I spoke about the importance of a ‘Moment of Silence’ that the Rebbe advocated for all American students with the goal of having every child contemplate the Creator.
“I explained to the priest that his job is to study the Seven Noahide Laws, to do them, and to spread them further. Better he should spend his time on this than on matters that did not pertain to him.
“I stood out in the terminal and drew the attention of many passengers. A bearded Jew talking with a priest definitely was an attraction.
“Our conversation went on deep into the night and I noticed odd looking groups of non-Jews passing near us. They wore all sorts of colorful robes of Chinese, Japanese, Indians; it was surreal.
“Right after Shabbos, I discovered that my flight to Australia was leaving almost immediately and I would not have time to light the second light of Chanuka in the terminal.
“I boarded the plane and shortly after the plane settled into its flight course, I got up and went over to the stewardess and began explaining that we Jews have a special holiday and I had to light candles. At first, she thought I was joking, because there is no such thing as lighting a fire on a plane, never mind having it burn for at least half an hour. I told her I was very serious and that I had to do it. ‘I see you are not the one who can approve it, so I would like to speak with someone higher up who can allow it.’
“I was sent to a senior steward who explained there was no chance they would approve it, but I continued to insist until finally he brought me into the pilot’s cabin and I spoke with the captain. He explained that from a security standpoint it was impossible. In our conversation, I explained that this wasn’t my own personal idea but something universal that brings light and blessing to the world, including a personal blessing for the captain.
“In the end, he was convinced, to the astonishment of the crew and passengers, and he told the stewardesses to clear away certain containers that were situated in the rear of the plane. They cleared a place for me and allowed me to light the menorah on the floor of the plane.
“My menorah, of course, was comprised of oil and wicks, and the lights burned for more than half an hour. The sight seen by hundreds of passengers captured their eyes and hearts. They were amazed by the whole event, and that a Jew had been able to obtain rare permission to do this mitzva in a plane between heaven and earth. It made a great kiddush Hashem and I am sure that this lighting brought blessing to the world.”
REPERCUSSIONS
“After returning to my seat, I noticed that I was sitting next to a Muslim. He had just moved from Egypt to Indonesia. We got to talking about Israel and the Arabs and war, but I quickly steered the conversation to the Seven Noahide Laws and we spoke at length about this. Like the priest, he was also deeply affected and committed to observing the Seven Laws and he also promised to spread the word. He said he believes this is what will bring him blessing.
“The plane landed in Sydney and then continued to Melbourne. I landed on Sunday, a few hours before the concert that evening. This was also a miracle.
“Thousands of people attended the concert. R’ Gutnick, the organizer, went on the stage and sang, ‘Oseh Shalom Bimromav.’ I sang a variety of songs that swept up the thousands in attendance and it was a big kiddush Hashem. During my concerts, I like to get kids and adults up on the stage who seem suitable to joining the singing, which helps me get the audience involved, and I did so this time too.
“After the concert, they asked that I stay for the dinner that was being held for local Israelis in a hotel owned by R’ Gutnick. There too, the performance was especially engaging and joyous for the local Israeli-Sefardi community, and again there was a big kiddush Hashem. I communicated many of the Rebbe’s messages, and told them that by assisting the local shliach they are also receiving kochos from the Rebbe, since the Rebbe’s blessings flow to them through the shliach.
“Later on, I also farbrenged with the guys from the yeshiva in Melbourne, and there was a lot of simcha.”
THE BOTTOM LINE
“The bottom line of the whole story, which began as a painful mishap, is the great kiddush Hashem that ensued. Literally, everything that I asked of the Rebbe in my letter was fulfilled to the max. I arrived on time and in peace to the event, there was a huge publicizing of the miracle of Chanuka tens of thousands of feet above the ocean, somewhere between Hong Kong and Australia, and it seems to me that nobody else was ever allowed to light Chanuka candles on a flight, and certainly not to have them burn such a long time.
“I also merited to spread Judaism at the main event in particular, and in Melbourne in general, and obviously spreading the Seven Noahide Laws with the priest and the Muslim, exactly as the Rebbe charted my course in advance. All I can do is give thanks to Hashem ‘for Your miracles, and for Your wonders, and for Your salvations.’”
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