Simchat Torah: How a Flydubai Plane Incident Relates to the Holiday

The article explores the concept of 'Hakafah' (circling or making rounds), a central theme during the Jewish holiday of Simchat Torah, and connects it to a recent incident involving a Flydubai airplane. The author explains that 'Hakafah' has multiple meanings, including the ritualistic circling of Torah scrolls around the synagogue bimah during Simchat Torah, drawing parallels to the biblical story of Jericho and the Temple service. It also refers to buying on credit, where a seller 'circles' the period between providing goods and receiving payment, symbolizing trust. Spiritually, this is likened to God giving humanity a good year before payment is fully earned through observance.

The article then introduces a new aviation term, 'Hakafah aviation,' inspired by a Flydubai plane's turbulent experience during Sukkot. The author describes the plane's severe maneuvers in the air, comparing them to an enthusiastic dancer during Hakafot, and posits that its safe landing after such an ordeal was a miracle. A friend from a Chabad community, who managed aircraft maintenance for El Al, stated that the plane was grounded, deemed irreparable, and not built for such extreme maneuvers. This detail, the author suggests, underscores the magnitude of the miracle, especially considering the pilot managed to regain control just 60 seconds before a potential crash. The piece concludes by encouraging reflection on the various meanings of 'Hakafah' as the Jewish year begins anew, emphasizing the cyclical nature of life.