"A British young man came in last month on his way to India, where he was going to find some spirituality," relates emissary Rabbi Amos Mizrachi, a volunteer at the Chabad Center of Lod airport, Israel. "We engaged him in conversation and in the end he became so involved, he opted to stay. We convinced him that Israel has all the spirituality and mysticism that he could possibly wish to discover."

Established more than 23 years ago by Rabbi Nachman Maidanchik, the Chabad Center at the airport does a brisk business providing Jewish travelers with literature, prayers for their way, Shabbat candles, tourist information and a chance to put on Tefillin and give to charity before they fly.

Tourists in-transit can follow a Torah lesson on a video monitor while waiting for their flight to be called.

Tucked prominently in the midst of the duty free shop and cellular phone counters the Chabad Center is staffed 24 hours a day. In the past year the center has expanded from a simple booth to a full storefront that can accommodate dozens of visitors.

In the summer months more than 5,000 tourists will stop by each day. "Israel has only one international airport and every Jew has to pass the center on his way abroad," says Rabbi Maidanchik.

A group of four teenage boys arrive at the entrance to the center, arguing in hushed tones over whether or not they should go inside. Maidanchik encourages them to enter and in moments began helping them through the short ceremony of putting on Tefillin. Solemn and quiet, the four boys proceed, one after the other. In the end, they thank the rabbi and rush out, exuberant and perhaps transformed by the experience.

"I live for these moments," confesses Rabbi Maidanchik, smiling broadly.