Last Surviving Crew Member of Alaska Airlines' Yemen Airlift to Be Honored

NEW YORK, Sept. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines and retired Captain Elgen M. Long, the last surviving Alaska Airlines crew member who participated in the life-saving airlift of 50,000 Yemenite Jews to Israel between 1948-50, will be the honored on September 12 at the Museum of Jewish Heritage, 36 Battery Place in New York. The announcement was made by Shahar Azani, Executive Director of StandWithUs New York.

The secret mission was known as the "Operation Magic Carpet" and "Eagle Wings" was the name given to this unique Alaskan Airlines airlift. The airline participated in the majority of the furtive flights after James Wooten, then president of Alaska Airlines was moved by the plight of the Yemeni Jews and agreed to rescue them.

The event, organized by StandWithUs New York in partnership with the American Sephardi Federation and the Alaska Jewish Museum, begins at 7:00 p.m. and is free to the public. A VIP reception will be held at 6:00 p.m.  Ambassador Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel, will speak, together with Azani, Alaska Airlines' Tim Thompson and Leslie Fried, curator of the Alaska Jewish Museum.

Alaska Airlines will be presented with the "StandWithUs Savior of Israel Award." Captain Long will be honored with American Sephardi Federation's "Maimonides Friendship Award" by ASF President David Dangoor, Board Member and Yemenite-Ethiopian Professor Ephraim Isaac and Executive Director Jason Guberman. In addition, there will be a raffle drawing to win two first-class tickets to any destination Alaska Airlines/Virgin America fly.  

Azani traveled to Anchorage, Alaska on July 6, 2016 to attend the Alaska Jewish Museum's special exhibit on the airlift, developed by curator Leslie Fried, and titled: "On the Wings of Eagles; Alaska's contribution to Operation Magic Carpet."

Shahar Azani, StandWithUs NY Executive Director: "Yemenite Jews started their return to Israel at the end of the 19^th century, a process culminating with 'On Eagles Wings.' My family is eternally indebted to Alaska Airlines and its heroic crew who brought us to the land of our ancestors to live in freedom and dignity. This was a one-of-a-kind endeavor, as Alaska Airlines flew over enemy territory, facing tremendous risks, just to do the right thing. It's a display of human courage and dignity, which is worthy of our honor and profound respect and for which Israel, and the Yemenite Jewish community, shall forever be grateful for."

Ambassador Dani Dayan, Consul General of Israel in New York: In 2017-2018 Israel is celebrating several Jubilees; events that shaped the history of modern Israel. The airlift of approximately 50,000 Yemenite Jews on "Wings of Eagles" is definitely one of them. This historic event, along with others, express the deep bond between the people of Israel and the Land of Israel, as well as a journey of resilience and hope. For 2000 years, Jews, be they from Morocco, Yemen, Poland or Germany, yearned to return to their ancestral homeland. Today, Israel is a modern country and a strong democracy where all citizens have equal rights. Along with the celebration of these achievements, we see this event as a special opportunity to thank the American people and express the State of Israel's gratefulness to the countries and the individuals who have supported the Jewish State and assisted in developing it into the diverse, prosperous and thriving democracy it is today.

To RSVP and purchase a ticket to the VIP reception, click here or contact StandWithUs-NY 212-512-9200, extension 1 or e-mail [email protected]

Contact:
Shahar Azani, Executive Director, StandWithUS Northeast
212.514.9200 Ext. 11
[email protected]

SOURCE Stand With Us

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