EL AL and Bob Jacobs – 1957 Letters

EL Al - Loyalty & Support

Tha actual EL AL Lockheed Constellation plane (4x-AKE)
which my father took on his first flight to Israel in 1957

“ I just finished a delicious lunch & before I take a nap I decided to write.
The plane is very nice & the ride is nice and smooth”

July 19, 1957

“ I had a most wonderful & enjoyable trip. The ride was smooth & swift. The service was excellent with the most delicious meals I've ever eaten in my life.”

July 21, 1957

David's Comments

Realizing the vital importance that EL AL means to Israeli security and economy, the Jacobs work to promote and support the airline

Bob Jacobs, shortly before boarding his first EL AL flight to Israel in 1957

The Jewish Star on El Al planes are a source of pride to my father and many Jews throughout the world.

On May 24, 1991 EL AL made world history by airlifting 1088 Ethiopians immigrants to Israel - the greatest number of passengers ever to fly on an airplane.

My parents made their second visit
to Israel in 1968. Throughout the years,
they always flew EL AL.

The Importance of EL AL to Jews and Israel

Already back in 1957 on his first trip to Israel, my Father flew El Al, and sang the praises of the Israeli airlines in a letter he wrote to his parents. He placed EL AL on top of his agenda for many reasons: He understood that supporting El Al meant jobs for Israelis working on staff. This included security positions which were often filled by ex-IDF soldiers, providing a higher quality of security for people visiting Israel.

Of utmost importance, he reasoned that it was only El Al who would continue its flights to Israel in a time of war. To be a self-sufficient and sovereign country, my father felt it was critical that Israel had its own Israeli airlines which would continue its flights when the going gets rough.

Indeed, during the Yom Kippur War, El Al maintained the only air link between Israel and the rest of the world. Not only did they continue flights during the war, but managed to transport military personnel and doctors from overseas during these emergency circumstances.

Volunteering to Promote EL AL

As one of the heads of Young Israel in Staten Island, Bob Jacobs' first order of business was to ensure that the organization he is affiliated with use El-Al exclusively. In a letter to the President of the National Council of Young Israel back in 1969, he wrote: "We were distressed to learn that Young Israel…does all their bookings through Alitalia… we know by now that Israel and world Judaism stand alone. It is Young Israel's sacred duty to give any and all business only to El Al"

When sensing that he wasn't getting results, he followed up by turning to Young Israel members, urging them to join the struggle : "Israel needs every dollar of foreign exchange she can get… Therefore, I was greatly distressed to learn that our National Council of Young Israel has taken a travel agent to book our tours who gives no business to El Al…I call upon you to sign the enclosed letter and petition our national office to stop this disgrace…"

After convincing other major Jewish organizations like Bnei Brith to fly El Al, my Father reached out to Rabbi Alexander Schindler, the head of the Reform movement of American Judaism, in a letter dated November 28, 1984. At that time, the Reform movement was flying to Israel with Olympic Airlines, a Greek airline whose government was supporting Yasser Arafat. He asked Rabbi Schindler: "Why wasn’t the reform movement using the Israeli company El Al for its trips to Israel?" Rabbi Schindler heartily agreed, and passed a resolution in the Reform movement, requiring all trips to Israel be flown by El Al airlines.

Upon learning of my Father's voluntary efforts help EL AL, the airline contacted him and offered him free upgrades and tickets for his work. My Father thanked them but refused any monetary benefit.

Calling EL AL to Task

Despite his affection for EL AL, my Father wasn't about to give them a pass when he discovered that the El Al wasn't patronizing Israeli products.

I personally remember this incident:
"On our way to Israel in 1983, my father noticed that the El Al flight was serving the American produced Kedem wine and not an Israeli wine. A week later, El Al was having a promotional dinner at the Laromme Hotel in Jerusalem, which was attended by top El Al executives and Israeli government officials. With a bottle of Kedem wine sporting an El Al sticker, my father and I approached these executives, and questioned their choice of using a non-Israeli wine. They answered that Kedem is cheaper. My father reasoned to them: 'if EL AL is telling Jews to fly its airline because it is an Israeli airline, despite the fact that TWA is cheaper, than El Al itself should purchase Israeli products.'

My father subsequently set up a meeting between Carmel Wines and El Al. As a result of his efforts, Carmel got the EL AL wine contract..."

In a letter of December 13, 1983, M.Baer, the Export Manager of Carmel Wines wrote to my Father stating: "We are however delighted to inform you that we have recently come to an agreement with EL AL and in the future they will be serving our wines on their flights."

1957 vs today

In 1957, txxxx

Today, tsssssssssss

LINKS:
Ixxxx