On a single Sukkot afternoon, Israelis experienced the full spectrum of human emotion: terror, prayer, joy, and pride. A plane carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children, was the target of an attempted kamikaze suicide bombing. Yet, thanks to the lightning-fast instincts of Israeli passengers and a courageous pilot, what could have been a national tragedy became another testament to the indomitable spirit of the Jewish people.
As the news broke, sukkahs across the country became makeshift sanctuaries of prayer. One friend rushed out to grab Psalms, only to return to the news that would dazzle the world. This is the Israeli way: in the face of darkness, we find light. In the words of comedienne Dana Perry Segal, dryly capturing the national mood: “In Israel, we just call this Wednesday.”
When Courage Rises in Moments of Terror
The pride we feel for our fellow citizens is tempered by the grim reality that such instincts are necessary. The passengers who subdued a knife-wielding co-pilot in seconds and the pilot who stabilized the plane are not trained commandos. They are ordinary Israelis who embody the fighting spirit that saved our nation three years ago, when Hamas barbarians invaded our borders on October 7.
This week, as we marked the third anniversary of that dark day, we linked the heroism on that plane to the heroism of those who gave their lives defending our homeland. The connection is undeniable: in Israel, courage is not an exception. It is a reflex.
Comedy for Koby: Laughter as a Weapon of Resilience
Amidst the grief and the commemorations, 760 of us gathered at the Jerusalem Theatre for an evening that perfectly captured our national paradox: “Comedy for Koby.” This sold-out event marked the 25th anniversary of the Koby Mandell Foundation, established by Rabbi Seth and Sherri Mandell after Palestinian terrorists brutally murdered their 13-year-old son Koby and his friend Yosef Ishran in 2001.
What began as a family's desperate attempt to heal has become a national movement of resilience. Since 2001, the foundation has supported 28,742 recovering family members from 9,500 families, including 11,233 siblings, parents, widows, and widowers at 140 healing retreats, and 13,742 campers at Camp Koby & Yosef.
Eliana Mandell Braner, Koby's sister and now the foundation's director, shared a sobering statistic: before October 7, they were helping 750 families. Today, that number has surged to 2,500 families. The trauma of terrorism has grown, but so has our capacity to heal.
Opening the evening, Sherri Mandell recalled the aftermath of her son's murder: “The Jewish people became our Sukkah, the place where we could feel safe.” Her words resonate now more than ever. In 2001, Israelis were in denial about the trauma of Palestinian terrorism. The Mandells were trailblazers, developing what Rabbi Seth Mandell calls “a community of resilience.”
Laughter, Tears, and Am Yisrael Chai
Then came the five magical words that captured the whiplash of our emotions: “Are we ready to laugh?”
And we did. Comedian Avi Liberman joked about Israelis celebrating the terror attempt, quipping that El Al stockholders were thrilled as they imposed even higher prices. Perry Segal delivered her world-weary but life-affirming take on Israel. Ben Ben Baruch riffed on asking his rabbi “why they hate us.”
Then actor Michael Rapaport toasted Israelis' matter-of-fact but “fierce” derring-do. He noted how the passengers sang “Am Yisrael Chai” as they landed, while his fellow “Ashkenazi Jews of New York” would have been cowering in the back of the plane. Rapaport, who has taken a lonely stand in Hollywood since October 7, mixed humor with a heart-rending account of being abandoned by the industry he served for over three decades.
When asked if anyone in Hollywood had pleasantly surprised him, his answer was a stark “no.” Yet, like so many of us who have stood up for Israel, he affirmed he has no regrets. “It was totally worth it,” he said, recounting the tears, greetings, thanks, and love he has received from strangers who appreciate his courage.
The Secret to Our Success: Reluctant Heroes
Speaking with Rapaport and Rabbi Mandell afterward, I recalled President John F. Kennedy's response when asked how he became a hero after saving his PT-109 sailors in World War II. JFK shrugged: “It was involuntary. They sank my boat.”
We live in an ugly world, filled with jihadists and others who wish to sink our ships and shatter our spirits. But we keep beating them and bouncing back, thanks to legions of reluctant, matter-of-fact, loving, fierce, community-oriented, self-sacrificing, everyday heroes. From the passengers on that plane to the pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar from Mumbai, to the families at Camp Koby & Yosef, to each of us who chooses joy over fear.
That is our secret to success. And to happiness.
The writer is a Distinguished Scholar of North American History at McGill University and a Senior Research Fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened on the Flydubai flight to Israel?
An attempted kamikaze suicide bombing was foiled on a flight carrying 174 passengers to Israel. Israeli passengers subdued the attacker, and the pilot stabilized the plane, landing safely.
What is the Koby Mandell Foundation?
The foundation, established in 2001 after the murder of 13-year-old Koby Mandell, provides healing retreats and camps for families affected by terrorism. It has supported over 28,000 family members to date.
How has the foundation grown since October 7?
The number of families supported has increased from 750 to 2,500, reflecting the increased need for trauma healing in the wake of the Hamas invasion.