Jewish Flight Attendant Sues Delta Over a Ham Sandwich and Denied Holiday Request

by Anthony Losanno
Delta Planes

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A Delta Air Lines flight attendant is suing the airline over what he claims religious discrimination after being served a ham sandwich and not being allowed to take the day off for Yom Kippur. The flight attendant is relatively new (2.5 years with Delta), but claims there is a pattern of discrimination at play here.

Sasi Sheva, 44, was born in Israel and resides in Encino, CA. His lawsuit states that Delta “has engaged in a pattern of intentionally discriminating and retaliating against ethnically Jewish, Hebrew and/or Israeli employees based upon their race and ancestry.” There are two main incidents that are driving this lawsuit: crew meals and scheduling.

The New York Post reports that in July 2022, Delta changed his schedule in the middle of a trip (which happens frequently). He was transported in a van to his next flight to keep it from being delayed and was unable to purchase Kosher or vegetarian food for himself as a result (he keeps both Kosher and avoids eating meat). The lawsuit continues that he was not allowed to “stop for a few minutes in the concourse so that he could purchase a vegetarian snack.” His profile “clearly stat[es that] he is Hebrew-speaking, Jewish and vegetarian, [but] he was provided with a ham sandwich.”

Yom Kippur

The second incident that is called out in the lawsuit is around crew scheduling and occurred in October 2022. When you are with an airline for only a few years, you are low on the seniority list. Sheva alleges that his request to take off Yom Kippur, which is the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, was “refused in bad faith and with no justification.”

I have sympathy for people with restricted diets (whether for health, religious, or personal choices) and I also have respect for people’s religious beliefs. But, I do not feel that Delta went out of its way to discriminate here. I’m not a lawyer (so this is in no way a legal opinion), but it seems like a catering error due to a scheduling change and then not being senior enough to choose when to work are the culprits here.

Anthony’s Take: I’m not sure this is going to have legs, but we’ll see when it gets to court. In my opinion, Delta might not have accommodated all of this employee’s requests and made a mistake, but I don’t see discrimination or anti-semitism at play based on what has been released.

(Image Credits: Lukas Souza and Photovs.)

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30 comments

Stephanos September 21, 2024 - 1:46 pm

One of the MAIN questions asked on Delta’s initial application is, “Are you willing to work weekends AND HOLIDAYS.” Every flight attendant knows that days off are granted by seniority! He was actually in an advantageous position, as practicing Jews are both a small minority in the U.S. and At Delta. Thus, most employees would not want Yom Kippur off. This employee did not bid his schedule well, otherwise he would have easily gotten it off.

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Frequent Flyer September 22, 2024 - 10:05 am

I have a much much bigger problem with them not wanting to give him or for Yom Kippur. More often than not, as a frequent flyer who has back in the day not had kosher meals on the flight even though they were supposed to, you can always figure out something because there’s always something that certified kosher on the plane. As far as Yom Kippur concerned, that’s a religious observance and Delta should have been more accommodating. The fact that people here have made comments about that you’re supposed to work on holidays, there’s a difference between Thanksgiving and a religious holiday, a religious holiday like Yom Kippur. There is no comparison whatsoever between any of the modern day American secular / originally religious-based holidays and Yom Kippur. Delta should have been more accommodating.

And, it’s not like they’ve never heard of it because they do have a few Orthodox Jewish captain/first officers working for the airline.

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Laurelle Clarke September 22, 2024 - 11:33 am

When I became a flight
Attendant I was clearly
Aware that I would be working holidays Christmas for a Christian is also very important
So to say his not getting his special religious holiday is more important is wrong. This man is just unhappy with his employment choice and now looking for a payout
I

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Damien B September 22, 2024 - 12:28 pm

If you are not Jewish than you are not qualifies to speak as to the import of Yom Kippur for Jewsish people. Period. It’s literally the one a day a year many Jews go to synagogue at all. Observant Jews also are required to fast so it could be dangerous for him to be forced to work on Yom Kippur as he would be weak and possibly not thinking clearly by end of the 26 hour fasting period. It’s simply prejudice to not grant this simple request for one day.

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NedsKid September 23, 2024 - 2:34 pm

Should we give all Muslim crew members off during Ramadan if they fast? What about Christians and Easter?

Martha Herbison September 23, 2024 - 6:54 am

You are totally ignorant here! Dumber than a bag of hammers as to work requirements and job description—cut your BS—

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Judy Beall September 29, 2024 - 3:17 pm

This F/A needs to find another job.
I was an F/A with Delta and is the best .

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Christian September 21, 2024 - 2:47 pm

I think the guy picked the wrong profession for his gripes.

More distressing to me is equating ethnicity and religion. Saying that a religion is a Race sounds like something out of Germany 90 years ago and I find it incredibly disturbing for anyone say such things. Are Muslims a Race as well then? Christians? Hindus?

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Damien B September 22, 2024 - 12:32 pm

Seriously? Non-Jews under 45/50 don’t seem to have any understanding that one can be ethnically Jewish and have zero religious observance. Nazis (and modern day anti-zionists) made no distinction between someone who happens to be Jewish (or even just has a Jewish name or heritage) and those who observe or are religious. Jews are a tribe, a people, an ethnic minority, the most historically persecuted people on the planet, and the go-to scapegoat for any issue. They’re either too rich or too poor, too greedy or too generous (“flaunting”), too liberal or too conservative. The measuring stick for “what is a Jew” and “what Jews should do or think” constantly shifts and is always being determined by non-Jews. Check your bias.

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Kazi September 22, 2024 - 1:52 pm

Judaism is more than a religion. It is a nation and a people similar such as a tribe. Other religions are easily converted into, and want followers, however judaism is not. So it’s not so black and white. I also agree he picked the wrong profession.

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KRom September 21, 2024 - 3:44 pm

Professional victims

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Ya mother September 21, 2024 - 5:39 pm

These people do not live in reality.

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Deez Nutz September 21, 2024 - 7:36 pm

It has NOTHING to do with discrimination and EVERYTHING to do with SENIORITY. Your awarded schedule and whether you get the days off or not is based on that and nothing else. NOT religious holidays as compared to your on file religion. I don’t even know where you would be asked your religion in order for it to be on file anywhere in the first place. As for food choices, bring something with you in case you don’t get what you’re able to eat. Also, you have chosen to work for an airline that does NOT have a flight attendant union….so there’s that. (eye roll)

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Laurelle Clarke September 22, 2024 - 11:38 am

Agreed I worked numerous flights to and from Tel Aviv and the passengers were smart enough to bring kosher food with them in case their kosher meal was not boarded. They even went as far to share with other kosher passsngers if they didn’t receive kosher meal. He is a flight attendant and should know food accomadations are not always met and been prepared no matter what the situation. He is just unhappy with the job and looking for a quick payout.

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Martha Herbison September 23, 2024 - 6:58 am

You are totally ignorant here! Dumber than a bag of hammers as to work requirements and job description—cut your BS—it has ZERO to,do with A UNION and you know it🤦‍♀️ stop,that bs

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Linda Crumpton October 2, 2024 - 9:05 pm

We do not want a union . We have voted it down numerous times . 50 years and happily non union !

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Jozef September 22, 2024 - 3:53 am

Poor thing is higher than a kite and does not have a leg to stand on… I too am a flight attendant for the same company… I am catholic and my 26 year tenure I only had Christmas off once… at 2.5 year seniority it is ridiculous to demand being off on a certain day… he could have asked for it but since everything in the airlines is seniority based, i am not surprised that his request was not granted

About the ham sandwich…. There are many times we do not get any food when we fly domestic and if we do, it is the same for everyone, regardless of their dietary or religious restrictions… the vast majority of us however bring food from home or buy food on our way to work….
This whole thing is once again a case in point example of the younger generation being entitled… good luck suing Delta, my friend! I can tell you already, you are so going nowhere!

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Eden B September 22, 2024 - 8:32 am

Federal inaction requires employers to make reasonable accommodations for religious observance. Given that flight attendants schedules are shifting all the time, and there are always reserve flight attendants available if the complaint is accurate re Yom Kippur, Delta will lose on that one.

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Eden B September 22, 2024 - 8:33 am

Federal law, not federal inaction

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Martha Herbison September 23, 2024 - 7:02 am

No they will not— t=your ignorance of the airline job is showing——time to stay mute on this subject or embarrass yourself

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AA FA September 22, 2024 - 9:32 am

Oh wowwww. He can try applying for American. No flight attendants get any food, so there can’t be discrimination there. Delta is kind to offer a sandwich.

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Hahaha September 22, 2024 - 10:06 am

Next christmas I will email my manager and request the day off LOL the idea is beyond ridiculous. You dont demand days off in the airline industry. You bid according to seniority and you get what you get. At AA I’ve seen flight attendants be denied a day off for their wedding day. Or for being sick with the flu. It doesn’t matter what the reason is. We ALL get treated the same, it has nothing to do with discrimination.

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Josh September 22, 2024 - 11:29 am

If he was Black, or Arab, this would be on the front page of CNN and NBC and Gloria Allred or Ben Crump would be his lawyer.

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Anne September 22, 2024 - 11:31 am

Our present (and near future) generations expect to be catered to. Entitled. It’s the way we raised them, it’s what our schools and Hollywood tells them and it is the way our present culture is trending. Unfortunately, we need a fairly deep Depression to put things in perspective once again. Delta goes out of their way to accommodate employees even when they are not required to by law . One thing is for sure & that is Seniority means EVERYTHING when working in the USA in the Airline Industry, as it should. I am sure this employee was informed of that and signed documents that he understood. As far as a ham sandwich goes……. give me a break. Many f/A’s choose to bring their own food. In my opinion, this person has a complaint that has nothing to do with the reason they filed this lawsuit.

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Flora September 22, 2024 - 6:34 pm

It sounds to me like poor planning on this Person fault. If being off on that holiday was so important, he could have scheduled his vacation time around the holiday.

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Martha Herbison September 23, 2024 - 7:08 am

He will not win and looks foolishj—-and the sympathizers are totally ignorant of What Delta has to do in this case—-

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Bree September 23, 2024 - 8:46 am

As an airline employee, I agree with what has been stated repeatedly, when you apply and are hired it clearly states we are a 365, 24/7 operation. You are made aware from the very beginning that you will miss holidays and special events due to seniority. I have missed holidays, weddings, even my own graduation for my degree due to seniority ruling the industry.

I am also a vegetarian and knowing this regardless of crew meals being offered and knowing a reroute is always a possibility, I always pack snacks or meals for myself as my meal option may be something I don’t eat. Crew also get to pick their meals after all passengers have chosen and picked their meals as they are paying customers. Even with preorders, there are times catering stations are not able to accommodate requests or make mistakes so you need to be a responsible adult and be prepared for uncontrollable variables. Crew meals are a courtesy and not a requirement to be provided or accommodated. And as previously stated there are kosher snack options in the snack baskets.

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Maballz es Harry September 24, 2024 - 8:11 pm

Another winey prissy little fag from California. Grow up!

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john September 26, 2024 - 1:43 pm

Best comment yet!

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Edward Harracksingh the September 25, 2024 - 1:35 pm

Typical of this generation that thinks the world should stop to let them in I am a forty year veteran of the airline industry and it has always been a 24 / 7 industry with shift bids based on DOE. If you are not happy leave but do not try to bring down DL based on your ethic background Shame on you

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