After a disturbing incident in Spain in which dozens of Jewish children were forcibly removed from a flight, the local shluchim in Valencia, Rabbi Shalom and Devorah Leah Binshtock, quickly mobilized to provide aid, food, and comfort.

By Anash.org reporter

After a disturbing incident in Spain in which dozens of Jewish children were forcibly removed from a flight, the local shluchim in Valencia, Rabbi Shalom and Devorah Leah Binshtock, quickly mobilized to provide aid, food, and comfort. The shluchim were among the first to respond to the needs of the stranded group.

“Yesterday afternoon, we received a call from one of the organizers that were with them and heard about what had happened,” said Rabbi Binshtock told Anash.org. “They told us that they had been left without even basic essentials and had nothing to eat. We immediately realized the gravity of the situation. It was an extremely unpleasant experience for the children and their counselors, to say the least.”

The group of 52 Jewish teens – most of them French, some Israeli – was traveling as part of a summer program. According to reports, they were singing traditional Jewish songs while boarding a Vueling Airlines flight from Valencia back to Paris. The flight crew reportedly asked them to stop singing, and police were called. The teens were then forcibly removed from the plane. One of the group’s counselors was arrested, handcuffed, and had her phone confiscated before being released on condition that she not distribute any documentation of the incident.

The story sparked widespread public outcry in Spain and beyond. 

“The woman who was arrested and assaulted is the camp director,” said Israel’s Minister of Diaspora Affairs, Amichai Chikli. “Fifty Jewish children, aged 10–15, were singing Hebrew songs on the plane. The Vueling crew said Israel is a terrorist state and forced the children off the plane. They are now in Valencia, waiting to return to France. In line with Hamas’s web of lies – broadcast by Al Jazeera, Haaretz, and others – we are seeing a serious uptick in antisemitic incidents. This is one of the most severe.”

Spain’s local authorities confirmed that the group was removed from the aircraft but have not offered further explanation. As of now, Vueling has not issued an official response. The Spanish Ministry of Transport said an internal investigation has been launched.

Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs also released a statement: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli Embassy in Madrid were in continuous contact with the airport authorities and relevant parties in Valencia. The State of Israel, the Foreign Ministry, and Israel’s diplomatic missions around the world will continue to assist Israelis and Jews in distress wherever they may be.”

The World Jewish Congress condemned the incident in strong terms: “A situation in which force and violence are used against Jewish children – just for singing in Hebrew – is unacceptable and evokes memories of dark times in our people’s history. We join the call for an immediate investigation and demand accountability to ensure such incidents are never repeated.”

Once they understood the severity of the incident, the Bienstocks immediately began organizing support. “We realized they needed food and water, since part of the group had to remain overnight at a hotel near the airport, while others managed to get a flight back to Paris,” Rabbi Bienstock said.

Devorah Leah Bienstock took it upon herself to prepare a mehadrin kosher dinner for the children. “Together, we brought everything to the hotel.” Rebbetzin Bienstock said to Anash.org. “This morning, we again brought them a light meal. We met with them and shared with them that the whole community is worried about them and here to support them. Baruch Hashem, we were able to lift their spirits.”

Later reports confirmed that the group had finally managed to board flights back to Paris. “The incident caused a major stir here,” Rabbi Binshtock said. “Organizations from across Spain and beyond have been calling nonstop. Despite the rising tide of antisemitism, we remain committed to our mission – to spread the light of Yiddishkeit and support every Jew, wherever they may be.”