The Flydubai Miracle: How 174 People Made It Out Alive - Rabbi Yisroel Goldstein

A miracle at 34,000 feet high. Last night, the Jewish world and really people around the world witnessed something extraordinary. What began as an ordinary flight from Dubai to Israel suddenly became a struggle for survival. In a matter of moments, hundreds of lives hung in the balance. Passengers boarded expecting a routine journey home. Instead, they found themselves in the middle of a terrifying crisis. And yet today, every one of those passengers is alive. When I first heard this story, one question immediately came to mind. How many things had to go right for this story to end the way it did? Think about it. The right people were in the right place. Courage appeared exactly when it was needed. People stepped forward instead of standing back. Individuals could have frozen in fear chose to act. And somehow a story that could have ended in the unimaginable tragedy became a story of survival. Many people are calling it a miracle. And I agree, but perhaps not for the reason some people think. When we hear the word miracle, we often think about events that suspend the laws of nature. We think about the splitting of the sea. We think about dramatic supernatural moments. But one of the great teachings of Judaism is that God often works through people. God works through courage. God works through responsibility. God works through ordinary men and women who rise to the extraordinary moments. This story is a powerful example before anything else. We owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to Captain Smith Mukchar, the Indian pilot. According to reports, after being stabbed, he continued fighting for the lives of his passengers. Despite his injuries, he reportedly found the strength to open the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene. Just think about that. At a moment when most people have been thinking only about themselves, he was thinking about the safety of every person behind him. That kind of selflessness is the definition of heroism. His courage may very well have saved lives of everyone on that aircraft and who knows on the ground. Let us also express our deepest gratitude to the Israeli passengers who refuse to remain passive. They saw that something was terribly wrong. They understood that action was required and instead of waiting for someone else to solve the problem, they stepped forward. They took initiative. They put themselves at risk to protect complete strangers. That is courage. That is leadership. That is what it means to take responsibility for another human being. And let us not forget the two qualified pilots who happened to be on board. What are the odds? At the exact moment they were needed, they were there. And when the call came, they answered. They stepped forward and helped bring the aircraft to safely safely to the ground. When you reflect on all these events together, you begin to see something remarkable. This was not one hero. [snorts] This was many heroes. A wounded captain, brave passengers, dedicated crew members, pilots who answered the call. Each person played a role. Each person became part of the miracle. And as I reflected on this story, I found myself thinking about something very personal. When you have looked death in the eye and somehow been given another day, your perspective changes forever. I know that feeling. On April 27, 2019, during the attack at Kabara Pawe, my change, my life changed forever. When the bullets came flying and killed Lori Lynn Gilbert Kay, I took four bullets, lost these two fingers, but the rest of me survived. Survived so that I can be here today. Even though my life has changed forever. There were moments when I should have not survived. And yet, God had other plans. Since that day, I have often felt that every day is a bonus day. Every sunrise is a gift. Every opportunity to teach the Torah and inspiration is a gift. Every moment of family is a gift. Every conversation is a gift. Every chance to bring a little bit of light to the world is a gift. Looking at those passengers, I wonder if some of them woke up this morning with that same feeling. They boarded an ordinary flight, but when they landed, they were carrying something far more valuable than their luggage. They were carrying a second chance, a bonus round, a new chapter. And when whenever God gives you another chance, a question follows. What are we going to do with it? If God gives us another day, how will we spend a day? If God gives us another year, how will we use that year? Will we love more deeply? [snorts] Will we forgive more quickly? Will we spend more time appreciating the blessings already in our lives? Will we focus less on what is missing and more on what is present? Because surviving is not the end of the story. It is the beginning of the next chapter. The aftermath of a miracle is a responsibility. The gift of another day comes with a mission. Every morning before anything else we open our eyes, our hearts are beating. Air fills our lungs. We are alive. And perhaps we take that for granted. But we shouldn't. Life itself is a miracle. Most miracles never make the news. Most miracles happen quietly. A family gathered around the dinner table. A friend who calls at the right moment. The strength to get through another challenge. The opportunity to start again. This miracle happened at 34,000 ft. So the entire world noticed. But every one of us experiences miracles every single day. Sometimes God whispers. Sometimes God speaks a little louder. Last night may have been one of those louder moments. A reminder that life is precious. A reminder that courage matters. A reminder that gratitude ma matters. And a reminder that when [snorts] ordinarily people step forward with extraordinary courage, lives can be saved. Perhaps the greatest miracle is not simply that these passengers survived. Perhaps the greatest miracle would be what they do next. How they live, how they love, how they pray, how they appreciate. Because a second chance is one of heaven's greatest gift. And every one of us has been given that gift today. Tonight, hug your loved ones a little tighter. Make the phone call you have been putting off. Express gratitude more freely. Tell people you love them. Spend more time on what truly matters because none of us knows exactly what tomorrow will bring. But we do know this. Every day is a gift from God. Every breath is a blessing. And every moment is an opportunity to bring more light into this world. This has been a special gift from God during the high holiday season. We were just spending the day of atonement days ago asking God who shall live, who shall die, and asking God to seal us in for good year. Today was a miraculous miracle of biblical proportions. We are starting off the year with an amazing miracle. Let everyone wake up and realize this incredible miracle. 174 passengers lives could have been gone this morning today and they are all alive. A miracle that the plane that's that survived so much damages was able to land safely. all of the events that played into this incredible miracle. Just the fact they were able to get into the cockpit, the fact that the pilot, God bless his soul, even being stabbed, opened up the door was a miracle of miracles, and the fact that there was some Israeli military veterans on board and there were a fight a fighter pilot that was on board. And there's two qualified Dubai based pilots who knew this plane. So many miracles lined up. This is a miraculous day. We all need to say to God, "Thank you, God, for your eternal kindness." This miracle that happened on this Dubai flight is a sign to us that God is looking after us, that God is listening to you and [snorts] God will give you your miracles as well. This is a day of celebration in the time of joy. May we all be blessed with many such miracles in our personal lives, communal lives and global lives as well. God bless you. God loves you.