If you’ve ever flown on EL AL Israel Airlines, particularly on a transatlantic flight, you know that prayer is a big part of the in-flight experience. In an effort to avoid disrupting non-observant passengers, EL AL is trialing a new program onboard that directs the faithful to galleys for prayer.
EL AL Will Trial New Designated Prayer Times In Rear Galley
Flying on EL AL is not like most transatlantic flights. With many observant passengers traveling to and from Israel, it is not unusual to observe ad hoc prayer amongst small groups of men taking place at different points throughout the flight.
Prayer is a big part of the Jewish faith and Orthodox passengers pray at least three times per day, with many rabbis not permitting prayers to be conducted while seated. That causes congestion in aisles and at times disturbs other passengers, since the prayers are not silent.
In an effort to minimize congregation in the aisles while still allowing a “minyan” (prayer quorum) of 10 men to pray together, EL AL has told flight attendants of a new program that will:
- Coordinate pre-announced prayer at set times during the flight
- These prayers will take place in the rear galley, which can accommodate a larger group of men without blocking aisles
These prayers require precision on the part of flight attendants as well. For example, the “Shacharit” (morning prayer) typically lasts 30-40 minutes and should take place precisely at sunrise. That could potentially cause issues if sunrise occurs about 90 minutes prior to landing, conflicting with a pre-arrival meal service.
Flight attendants have been instructed to improvise on the timing of meal service if it conflicts with prayer time. However, should the flight encounter heavy turbulence, passengers will be required to return to their seats.
Good Idea? Bad Idea?
This is not the forum for a discussion of the Jewish faith itself or questioning why EL AL must cater to religious passengers. If you know anything about Israel or EL AL, you will understand why this an issue and should appreciate that EL AL is trying to take a fresh look at this recurring issue onboard.
But that does not answer whether this is a good idea or bad idea. Should congregating in the galley be encouraged? Is disturbing the meal times and service flow of passengers worse than clogging aisles during the flight? What if this means everyone has to have their sleep interrupted 45 minutes earlier so that food can be served prior to a prayer?
For every negative reaction to this trial, however, it seems to make a lot of sense to me. This allows observant passengers more space to practice what is fundamental to their identity without disturbing other passengers. Blocking aisles also seems to pose a greater safety risk than congregating in the rear galley.
CONCLUSION
EL AL is testing a new program which sets prayer at certain times during the flight and invites passengers to the galley in order to take part in it. The hope is this will allow observant passengers to honor their religious convictions while reducing congestion in the aisles and also promoting social distancing onboard.
(H/T: One Mile At A Time)
Shacharit doesn’t have to take place precisely at sunrise. It can take place any time between dawn and the mid-day point (which moves throughout the year but is around noon-ish). I’m a formerly-orthodox Jew.
Promoting religion is a bad idea. Always.
Easy, just won’t fly that airline. There’s other ways to get to Israel, should I feel compelled to go there.
I thought gathering in the galley was forbidden on flights to and from the US?
Maybe El-Al has an exemption?
I don’t care if it’s for prayer or not, but 50-70 people all getting up at once and walking to the back of the plane is a bad idea. It’s not a security problem it’s a CG problem. There is no way that aircraft is still in balance when they do that.
You can ask any El-Al heavy pilot, they know exactly when prayer time is because the trim wheel starts spinning out of the blue in cruise. It hasn’t burned them yet, but someday they are going to hit CAT during prayers and in a turn, and it’s going to be ugly.
This is one of many reasons I’d like to take a flight on El Al one day. I’m not Jewish, but I’m not sure there’s any other airline that incorporates culture so much in to the natural course of flight.
This is one of the reasons I never flew on El Al because it was never allowing prayers.
Even low cost airlines like Easy Jet, Wizz air, Ryanair, and the late Monarch normally allow prayers to take place in flight, and I myself have quite a few times prayed in the back of the plane on those airlines.
So do British and Virgin allow prayers to take place, while El Al never allowed.
I’m happy that this might have changed, but I’m not going to fly with them for other reasons.