[Avodah] praying with a minyan on an airplane

[Eli Turkel]

In the latest volume of the Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society
there is an article on praying with a minyan on an airplane.
The author, Rabbi Weiner, points out that though praying with a minyan is
strongly encoutaged it is overriden by other considerations such as
performing a mitzvah even if its only rabbibic as well as health, physical and
financial concerns etc. Thus it is not always obligatory.

Thus in particular problems of a chillul hashem would override davening
with a minyan. Other problems include proximity to the lavatory and
immodestly dressed women who need to pass by in the aisle. He quotes
RSZA as being opposed to minyanim on a plane.

A good portion of the article disccuses the prohibitin of gezel sheina.
Rav Wosner feels the problem is of less importance since sleep is
intangible while R. Menashe Klein claims gezel does apply to intangible items.
In particular R. P.C. Sheinberg rules that one is not allowed to waken a
fellow passenger in order to get to one's tallit and tefillin.

As usual for any particular case he recommens speaking to your LOR

-- 
Eli Turkel