This band of musicians with disabilities wanted to represent Israel at Eurovision. Their Sabbath observance became a problem. The Shalva Band has pulled out of its shot at the song contest because of dress rehearsals on Friday night and Saturday with recording and filming.
El Al to compensate all 400 passengers aboard flight diverted for Jewish Sabbath Each passenger will receive a free round-trip ticket to the European destination of their choice.
Haredi rabbi demands El Al apologize to Sabbath-observant passengers or face boycott Rabbi Shalom Ber Sorotzkin demanded that El Al CEO Gonen Ussishkin publicly apologize for its actions in allowing the flight to take off and then diverting it, and apologize for accusing the Orthodox passengers of being violent.