An Orthodox Jew enveloped in a colossal plastic bag ignited a fervent debate across realms of the Internet this week. Shared by Redditor “FinalSay” on the r/atheism subreddit, the image sparked curiosity and speculation as observers endeavored to decipher the purpose behind this peculiar travel attire.
At the heart of this enigmatic spectacle lies the stringent customs of Ultra-Orthodox Jews, who meticulously adhere to a code of conduct that includes strict gender segregation in public spaces. This adherence to tradition has even prompted instances where ultra-Orthodox men have requested seat changes on Israeli airline El Al to avoid proximity to women, leading to notable incidents like a woman suing the airline for being relocated due to these religious considerations.
While initial assumptions linked the plastic cocooning to avoiding contact with women, astute netizens swiftly debunked this notion. User “thenewyorkgod” shed light on a different facet, explaining that the individual in question is a Cohen, a descendant of the high holy priests, who must avoid cemeteries to maintain ritual purity.
This practice of encasing oneself in plastic for travel purposes is not entirely unprecedented. In past instances, El Al Airlines encountered situations where ultra-Orthodox individuals sought to seal themselves in plastic bags during flights over specific areas to uphold their religious obligations. However, safety regulations and practical considerations led to clashes between passengers and airline staff, culminating in instances where flights were disrupted due to these unique requests.
The saga of the Orthodox Jew ensconced in plastic serves as a captivating glimpse into the intersection of religious devotion and modern-day travel challenges, showcasing the lengths individuals may go to uphold their beliefs even amidst the constraints of contemporary air travel regulations.
I guess this behavior is the result of beliefs being passed down from a time before we knew that deadly diseases are passed through the air. Avoiding contact would have kept more priests alive during times of plague and deadly flu outbreaks. My guess is that flying in a plastic bag will probably only slightly lower the odds of getting sick from one of the passengers due to the recirculated air, however.
