Most people planning a flight know well about the restrictions regarding lotions, liquids and creams; some, though, are less sure about the arba minim.
Several years ago, as the yomim tovim approached, Agudath Israel of America’s Washington Office began getting inquiries from people making pre-Succos airplane travel plans, according to the office’s director and counsel Rabbi Abba Cohen.
“They were worried about not being allowed to bring their arba minim, particularly their lulavim, on board.” It appeared that they had every reason to worry, as airline and airport security personnel had indicated to them that carrying these items on board would indeed create difficulties.
Rabbi Cohen contacted the Department of Homeland Security’s Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) and laid out the problem: He explained to TSA officials that during the Succos season they could expect that hundreds of travelers would be attempting to board planes carrying “spear-like” palm fronds – objects likely unfamiliar to airline and airport personnel. He also explained to them what arba minim species were, their purpose and their use in holiday prayer rituals. It was critical both for the TSA and for observant Jews, Rabbi Cohen asserted, that guidance be sent out to ensure that airline and airport officials be made aware of the situation and that the religious items and those who carried them would have no problem clearing security.
The TSA responded by promptly issuing a directive to airports and carriers, briefly describing the holiday and the travel period in question and advising that “TSA’s standard operating procedures do not prohibit the carrying of such agricultural items through the airport or the security checkpoints, or on airplanes.”
“These plants are not on TSA’s Prohibited Items List,” according to the directive, which has been issued every year since and was recently re-posted on the TSA website. “And, as always, TSA is committed to treating all passengers, including passengers who may be observing Sukkot, with respect and dignity during the screening process.”
Rabbi Cohen commented, “The TSA is to be commended for being so sensitive to this religious issue and to the concerns of observant Jews, and for acting so expeditiously in finding an appropriate solution. Once the issue was explained to them, they immediately assessed the security issues and took steps to ensure that religious rights would not unnecessarily be compromised – an instructive case of how security concerns and civil rights can coexist without problem.”
(YWN Desk – NYC)
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10 Responses
Thanks for this important piece of information. Unfortunately Most people who are flying to America have already made their arrangements, like me. I have been told by many people, including the Nefesh Bnefesh Yahoo group that there was no point in bringing a Lulav. So it seems that this was never a known fact, as you mentioned “These plants are not on TSA’s Prohibited Items List,” according to the directive, which has been issued every year since”. Its nice to know this now even though I do find it strange that this was only posted today on the TSA website, one day before Yom Tov, when most people have already flown. I happen to be flying on Chol Hamoed but I already had someone buy me my Lulav in America. Zol Zein A Kaporah!
כל הכבוד להרב והעסקנים
http://www.tsa.gov/press/happenings/sukkot_2009.shtm
Does anyone have a directive from the agriculture department allowing lulavim and esrogim to come into the US from Canada by car?
#4 What difference does it make if it comes through Canada by car or it lands in an airport; what matters is that “these plants are not on TSA’s Prohibited Items List”. I would recomend that you print out this article in case they make problems.
to #5
The difference is significant. The lulav and esrog that you take on a plane has already been cleared by the agriculture department when they were imported. So taking them on a plane is not the same issue. Bringing in a lulav and esrog by car is importing plant material that needs to be aproved.
On a different web site it says the ou arranged this not the agudah. why can’t they both give each other credit?
Arnold its nt a prblm I’m canadian as well as long as u declare and tell them u have it since they will look out for it. Have a safe trip. By the way what part of canada r u frm???
It seems that this is aimed towards people flying within the U.S., or flying from the U.S. out to another destination. Therefore, the NbN group would be correct in their assumption that one cannot import agricultural items into the U.S. (Bringing the items into the U.S. would be under the jurisdiction of the Department of Agriculture, not the TSA.)
#8- thank you for the information. My intention was always to declare the lulav and esrog when crossing but I thought if there was a bulletin on it then it would be easier. (I remember seeing one in the past).
By the way I am from Toronto