According to Globes, El Al is going to start a trial of making official minyanim on long haul flights, in an attempt to put an end to the ad hoc minyanim that disturb passengers and crew alike.
The official minyanim will be held in the back of the plane, in the galley and times of services will be announced in advance by the cabin crew and on the screens by each seat. They say the minyanim will be contained in the galley and will not spill over into the aisles, so as not to disturb passengers seated in that area. Participants in the minyan will have to continue wearing their masks (I assume this is just for now with the mask mandate on flights but if that ever gets removed, the minyan-goers will no longer need to either).
ElAl has instructed its crews to prepare for this and to arrange their kitchen tasks and needs to be in sync with the minyanim allowances. The morning services will likely be scheduled for sunrise. In cases of weather difficulties, turbulence and the like, participants may be required to go back to their seats.
It is about time they are arranging some way to make it organized, instead of fighting about it every flight and having ill will between passengers and crew and each other.
I think they need to actually start two minyanim, so every praying-passenger will have the minyan he goes to and the minyan he wont attend.
Will women want a minyan as well? equal rights!
What happens if someone misses sunrise and wants to start another minyan?
I think they should also build a prayer area by the galley. They can install a bima and aron kodesh, have a permanent gabbai to run the minyan, maybe even hire a chazzan and a baal kriya! They will next install a bookcase with siddurim. And then next year they will open a yeshiva and kollel! ElAl should put out a fundraising call to name the ElAl inflight shuls after a dearly departed. :-)
Just joking. I really think it can be a good idea and that this is something that should have, could have, happened a long time ago.
------------------------------------------------------
Reach thousands of readers with your ad by advertising on Life in Israel
------------------------------------------------------
Religion Magazine
Author's Latest Articles
-
IDF Rabanut and Shai Abramson: VNikeiti Damam (video)
-
“Israel’s Enemies Are OUR Enemies” - Randy Fine CHALLENGED In Explosive America First Debate (video)
-
JSketch: The Passover Program Festival (video)
-
Israel Today! Back to Normal… Or Just a Pause? Life on the Streets of Jerusalem. (video)
