Jewish prayer diverts plane

BBC:

A US Airways flight was diverted to Philadelphia after a Jewish man's prayer items triggered a bomb scare, Philadelphia police said.

Passengers grew alarmed when the man used a phylactery - a small black box Orthodox Jews strap to their head as part of their rituals, police said.

The man was not arrested and the plane landed without incident.

...

Phylacteries - called tefillin in Hebrew - are two small boxes, usually made of black leather, with straps attached to them.

Observant Jewish men are required to place one box on their head and tie the other one on their arm as part of their morning prayers.

I have never seen this kind of prayer device. I guess most of my Jewish friends are "unorthodox." It is a curious ritual. It raises an interesting issue about the power of prayer.

The Jerusalem Post has more on the devices.

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