Shaken Up
I once found myself flying with a group of unruly youth, who acted disgracefully. It was hard for me to make peace with the fact that I was slated to spend the next eight hours in their company. But I also knew that my reproof would only fall on deaf ears.
I was suddenly struck with a plan. If these youngsters would enter a state of panic, they would surely abandon their indecent activities. I therefore lifted my eyes heavenward and said, “Ribbono shel Olam, please shake up the plane a little so that they should have some fear of You.”
- An El Al plane
It seemed as though Hashem was pleased with my prayer because a few moments later, the plane was met by turbulence. It swayed like a leaf in the wind. All of the passengers were shaken and the flight attendants ordered everyone to fasten their seat belts.
I took full advantage of the situation and turned to the group. “See what you have caused with your wicked deeds,” I said. “Because of you, the plane has been struck by turbulence.” The youth accepted my words and behaved more appropriately. And the plane was stabilized.
But it seems that their memory was very short. Not much later, they forgot this incident and returned to their wayward ways.
Suddenly, the turbulence started again, rocking the plane back and forth. It reached such a state that I began to really get scared. “Ribbono shel Olam!” I cried out. “I didn’t mean this. The previous turbulence was enough to shake everyone up!”
I turned to the youth in great anger and explained that Hashem could not tolerate their misbehavior. They were the ones who caused the turbulence, and if they continued, I warned, we would all die.
Finally, the message entered their hearts. They were overcome with a feeling of fear of Heaven. They acted properly for the rest of the trip. A great kiddush Hashem resulted from the fact that our lives hung in the balance, dependent on the actions of these youth.
