On November 11, 2026, the Rabbonim of Misaskim and Vaad Mishmeres Kehuna issued an urgent advisory regarding air travel for Kohanim—members of the priestly class in Jewish law—on El Al flights departing from John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) to Israel. The advisory, reported by YeahThatsKosher, instructs Kohanim to refrain from booking or flying on these specific routes until further notice.
The directive stems from a technical issue identified with the specialized containment apparatus used to transport niftarim (deceased individuals) on flights departing from JFK. Under halacha (Jewish law), Kohanim are prohibited from coming into contact with or being in proximity to a deceased person, including entering areas where a body is present. For years, a specifically designed box, developed under rabbinical guidance, has been utilized on El Al flights to shield Kohanim from ritual impurity (tumas meis) while the airline transports deceased individuals for burial in Israel.
According to the advisory, a recent technical compromise of this containment arrangement has rendered the current mitigation strategy ineffective. Consequently, the rabbinical authorities have determined that the longstanding protection is currently unreliable, and thus, Kohanim should avoid the JFK-to-Israel route entirely.
For those needing to travel to Israel via El Al, the advisory provides a clear alternative: passengers are encouraged to book flights departing from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). Because El Al does not transport niftarim on flights originating from Newark, the halachic concerns associated with the JFK route do not apply. Travelers already holding tickets for El Al departures from JFK are advised to contact the airline or their travel agencies to arrange a transfer to a Newark departure.
This is not the first time air travel logistics have intersected with these religious requirements. In the summer of 2024, El Al conducted a two-month pilot program that designated specific daily flights from JFK to Tel Aviv as being free of human remains to accommodate Kohanim. The current advisory remains in effect until further notice is provided by the rabbinical organizations.
Source: https://yeahthatskosher.com/2026/11/kohanim-el-al-jfk-israel-travel-advisory/
