Israeli Plane Hijacking Averted: Miracle or Faith Flaw?

A dramatic incident involving a Pelai Dubai flight carrying 174 Israelis was averted during Sukkot, sparking widespread gratitude and debate about its nature. The flight was hijacked by an individual intending to crash it, but a series of events led to its safe landing in a remote Saudi airport. Passengers managed to overpower the hijacker, and a British pilot, coincidentally aboard, took control of the aircraft. The plane sustained damage, including to its tail wings, but remained intact.

Many Israelis viewed the successful intervention as a clear miracle, with some comparing it to biblical events and seeing it as a salvation for the Zionist enterprise. Religious commentators on Channel 14 opened reports with prayers of thanksgiving, and the Haredi newspaper Yated Ne'eman featured the event on its front page, calling it a "miracle from heaven" and a "chain of miracles."

However, the interpretation of the event as a miracle was challenged by Rabbi Abraham Gottlieb, a Haredi influencer. Gottlieb criticized the fervent celebration, questioning why such a miraculous intervention is praised when it aligns with perceived interests, but not when "God kills 1,200 children in one day." He argued that this selective view reflects a "limited Judaism" lacking true faith, suggesting that faith should encompass acceptance of both good and bad events.

The article contrasts Gottlieb's view with the prevailing sentiment of gratitude, particularly in light of the October 7th massacre. It posits that accepting this averted disaster as a miracle, rather than a lack of faith, represents the highest form of faith, especially given the national mourning for the victims of the Hamas attack.