TSA and the Flying Lulavim

Tonight I fly from Chicago back to New York, armed with freshly laundered clothes, and a lulav and etrog. Last year when I took my lulav through security one of the guards asked me to take it out of the case and show her what I used it for. On the one hand: reasonable, since the ends of the palm frond can be sharp. On the other hand: very annoying. Luckily, this year the Transportation Security Administration has issued an official sanction for Jews who want to bring lulavim and etrogim on airplanes:The travel period for the Jewish holiday of Sukkot begins approximately on Wednesday, September 30, 2009, and ends approximately on Tuesday, October 13, 2009.

Observant Jewish travelers may carry four plants – a palm branch, myrtle twigs, willow twigs, and a citron – in airports and through security checkpoints. These plants are religious articles and may be carried either separately or as a bundle. Jewish travelers may be observed in prayer, shaking the bundle of plants in six directions.

The workforce should note that TSA’s screening procedures do not prohibit the carrying of such agricultural items through the airport or security checkpoints, or on airplanes. These plants are not on TSA’s Prohibited Items List. And, as always, TSA is committed to treating all passengers, including passengers who may be observing Sukkot, with respect and dignity during the screening process.

Emphasis mine.

I am about to go print that so I can stash it with my etrog when the time comes. Let’s just pray my pitom doesn’t fall off in transit (woo—that sounds kind of dirty…) (also, little known fact: according to many rabbis, if the pitom falls off after the first two days you can continue to use that etrog).

(HT Dunash)

etrog

Pronounced: ETT-rahg, Origin: Hebrew, a citron, or large yellow citrus fruit that is one of four species (the others are willow, myrtle and palm) shaken together as a ritual during the holiday of Sukkot.

lulav

Pronounced: LOO-lahv (oo as in boo), Origin: Hebrew, a bundle of branches representing three species — willow, myrtle and palm — which are shaken together with the etrog on Sukkot.

Sukkot

Pronounced: sue-KOTE, or SOOH-kuss (oo as in book), Origin: Hebrew, a harvest festival in which Jews eat inside temporary huts, falls in the Jewish month of Tishrei, which usually coincides with September or October.