The Jewish Holiday Of Sukkot Is Not A Threat To Airline Security According To The Department Of Homeland Security

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16/10/2008 – The Jewish Holiday Of Sukkot Is Not A Threat To Airline Security According To The Department Of Homeland Security

Three days ago at Sunset, on the evening of the 13th of October, the Jewish festival of Sukkot began. Sukkot is the joyous holiday essentially celebrating the harvest.

With the holiday of Sukkot approaching the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) put out the following press release a few days before the start of this holiday.

Religious Events of Sukkot

TSA recognizes that the travel period for Sukkot, a significant event for persons of the Jewish faith, begins approximately on October 14, 2008, and ends approximately on October 20, 2008.

TSA’s standard operating procedures do not prohibit the carrying of the four plants – which include a palm branch, myrtle twigs, willow twigs, and a citron through the airport or the security checkpoints, or on aircraft. These plants are not on TSA’s Prohibited Items List.

TSA understands that this is a significant religious event for the Jewish faith and has reminded its security workforce that members of the Jewish faith may be observed engaging in religious practices or meditations and carrying the four plants.

I have read this press release and reread this press release, and for the life of me I cannot fathom why someone at the DHS or TSA though they needed to announce you could travel with the items customarily found in a Sukkah while celebrating Sukkot. None of these items are banned from carry-on baggage at any time during the year.

…………..so with the TSA’s blessing (so to speak)………To all the Jewish readers of Flying With Fish, L’shanah tovah, and happy and a healthy 5769!

Happy Flying!