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From
<a href="http://www.torahweb.org/torah/special/2010/rsch_airplanes.html" eudora="autourl">
http://www.torahweb.org/torah/special/2010/rsch_airplanes.html</a><br><br>
<div align="center"><h1><b>Davening</i> on Airplanes</b></h1></div>
<font size=3>Several times a year I visit <i>Eretz Yisroel</i>. When I
take a night flight I notice that many men sleep for five to six hours,
and then recite <i>Shema</i> and <i>daven Shacharis</i> after waking up,
as if they were at a seven o’clock <i>minyan</i> back in the United
States. However, because the airplane is flying from West to East and
traversing several time zones, the <i>zman Krias Shema</i> keeps getting
earlier and earlier, following the <i>zman Krias Shema</i> on the ground
over which the airplanes is flying<a name="_ednref1"></a>[1]. Often, by
the time many of the passengers wake up and get ready to start
<i>shacharis</i>, the <i>zman</i> on the ground below is already after
<i>chatzos</i> and well into the <i>zman</i> of <i>mincha</i>.<br><br>
Another common mistake people make is regarding <i>davening</i> with a
<i>minyan</i>. The Talmud emphasizes the importance of <i>tefillah
btzibur</i>; and one who <i>davens</i> with a <i>minyan</i> stands a much
better chance of having his prayers answered than one who lacks a
<i>minyan</i>. However, it is highly improper for the <i>chazzan</i> of a
<i>minyan</i> on an airplane to shout at the top of his lungs to enable
the other <i>mispalelim</i> to hear him over the airplane noise, and
thereby wake up all the passengers around him. It is true that there is a
<i>halachic</i> principle of <i>kofin al hamitzvos</i>, i.e. that <i>beis
din</i> has an obligation to force people to observe the <i>mitzvos</i>
even when they’re not interested in doing so, but this only applies when
pressuring an individual will result in his becoming observant. However,
when Orthodox Jews disturb non-observant Jewish passengers with their
<i>davening</i>, the non-observant passengers still remain non-observant
and now just have another point about which to be upset with the
Orthodox. The practice of the Orthodox passengers under such
circumstances appears simply as an act of harassment. Rather than having
accomplished the <i>hidur mitzvah</i> of <i>davening tefillah
btzibur</i>, they have violated <i>lifnei iver</i> by causing the
non-observant passengers to become more antagonistic towards <i>shemiras
hamitzvos</i>. The shouting tone of voice employed by the <i>shaliach
tzibbur</i> to overcome the noise on the airplane clearly does not
constitute a <i>kavod hatefillah</i>.<br><br>
The <i>halacha</i> states that when traveling, if it is too difficult to
stand for <i>shemoneh esrei</i> even the “<i>amidah</i>” may be recited
while seated. On a short flight of an hour and a half to Canada, it is
more correct to <i>daven</i> the entire <i>tefillah</i> while still
buckled in, in a sitting position. On the long flight to <i>Eretz
Yisroel</i> it is healthier not to sit the entire time; walking about
somewhat helps the blood circulation in one’s legs. As such, there is
nothing wrong with standing for <i>shemoneh esrei</i>, provided that
there’s no turbulence at that time. However, it is still not proper to
gather a <i>minyan</i> together near the washrooms, disturbing all the
other passengers and the stewardesses. As much as various Torah giants of
our generation have expressed their opposition to such <i>minyanim</i> on
airplanes<a name="_ednref2"></a>[2], their message has not yet been
accepted. We wish everyone a <i>chag kasher v’sameach</i>, and all those
traveling to <i>Eretz Yisroel</i> should have a safe trip, but keep in
mind – these <i>minyanim</i> are <i>shelo b’ratzon chachamim</i>!<br>
<br>
<a name="_edn1"></a>[1] Editor’s note:
<a href="http://www.chaitables.com">Chaitables.com</a> calculates the
<i>zemanei tefillah</i> for your flight given your departure and arrival
locations and times<br><br>
<a name="_edn2"></a>[2] Rav Shlomo Wahrman (<i> She’eiris Yosef</i>
vol. 7, <i>siman</i> 3) quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (<i>Halichos
Shlomo</i>, page 75), Rav Moshe Feinstein (<i>Igros Moshe Orach Chaim</i>
vol. 4 <i>siman</i> 20), Rav Ovadiah Yosef, and Rav Shmuel Wosner all
objecting to <i>minyanim</i> on airplanes that disturb other
passengers<br>
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