And the demise of common sense:
A US Airways flight was diverted to Philadelphia after a young Jewish man’s prayer items triggered a bomb scare, Philadelphia police said.
The incident arose when the man used a phylactery, a small black box Orthodox Jews strap to their head as part of their rituals, police said.
The man was not arrested and the plane landed without incident.
US airports are on high alert after a Nigerian man was held over an alleged bomb plot on a plane last month.
His device allegedly malfunctioned and he was quickly overpowered by passengers and crew on the flight from Amsterdam to Detroit.
The latest incident took place on a 50-seat regional jet originally bound for Louisville, Kentucky from New York’s LaGuardia airport. It landed in Philadelphia at about 0900 local time (1400 GMT).
I can understand the concern, considering the alarming epidemic of young Jewish men strapping phylacteries to their heads and blowing themselves up. Scarcely a day passes without another occurrence. It’s a new and devious strategy: forget about secreting explosives next to your testicles where anyone could find them – put them in plain sight on your head.
It is reported that when questioned by flight attendants, he didn’t give an adequate explanation of what he was doing.
Wow.
Do Orthodox Jews now need to carry instruction manuals to hand out? Or will Homeland Security ban prayer on air planes?
Peace,
Jim