[Avodah] Which way to Jerusalem?

[Dov Kaiser]

R. Simon Montagu wrote:
: It's easy to see from a globe that the same is true, lehavdil, for the
: distance from Alaska to Jerusalem. Does anyone happen to know in which
: direction Jews in Alaska pray?
 
See R. Elozor Reich's article at http://www.aishdas.org/articles/mizrach.htm.  From his article, it appears that the Emunas Chachamim (R. Aviad Sar Shalom), the Yaavetz and the Baal Hatanya favoured the Great Circle over the Rhumb Line in determining which way to face.  The Levush (who was "an expert in mathematics and astronomy" - RYLevine: there's another one to add to you list!) apparently favoured the Rhumb Line.  Ayen sham.
 
G'mar tov
Dov Kaiser 		 	   		  
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