9 December 2019

Northwood and Pinner Liberal Synagogue (NPLS) welcomed four El Al crew members for a Friday night dinner with a twist.

In a role reversal, Adar, Anat, Maya and Estie were served the food and drink during their one-night layover in London. Socialising with more than 60 NPLS members around the dinner table, they also shared stories about their own backgrounds, families and what Israel means to them.

The evening also provided the opportunity for members of the congregation to ask their burning questions about life in Israel and in the air. Questions included how to care for animals on board, how to handle tricky passengers and how to deal with the challenge of balancing family life with their jobs. The many weird and wacky moments of life in the air also provided a fantastic source of entertainment.

Rabbi Lea Mühlstein (pictured with Rabbi Aaron Goldstein, Adar, Anat, Maya and Estie) said: “The evening provided a wonderful opportunity for our members of all ages to engage with Israel in a multi-faceted way rather than focusing solely on the politics. Everyone went home with a long to-do list for their next trip to Israel and with real excitement about what the country has to offer.”

The event was part of the El Al Ambassadors Programme and organised with the help of Lior Diklshpan, the Jewish Agency’s director of campus activities and representative of diaspora affairs at the World Zionist Organisation.

Lior, who previously worked as an EL Al flight attendant prior to moving to London, added: “I’m very happy that the Department of Diaspora Affairs created this platform for us together with El Al. It was very special to combine two worlds I am passionate about and see first hand the powerful impact of bringing people together. Adar, Anat, Maya, and Estie lit up the room with their effervescent personalities and animated stories, connecting the NPLS community with heart-warming stories of Israel.”