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December 27, 2014 / 5 Tevet, 5775
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El Al Rabbi Alienates Passengers with Loudspeaker Traveler’s Prayer

My first reaction to this story was: El Al has its own rabbi?

the road prayer

Photo Credit: Original image by Moshe Shai / Flash90

Passengers boarding El Al flights in recent days have been surprised to hear the traditional Traveler’s Prayer (Tefillat HaDerech) over their plane’s public address system, as they entered the plane and once again as the plane was taxiing to its takeoff position, Yedioth Aharonot reported.

An airline employee told Yedioth that, about two years ago, the company placed a sign with the text of the Traveler’s Prayer at the entrance, and passengers did not complain because they barely noticed it.

“But now we’re receiving complaints from the air crews and the passengers. The company employs many non-Jews, and it’s certainly unpleasant,” the El Al employee said.

A non-Jewish El Al passenger told Yedioth that in the U.S. airlines have switched from the “Merry Christmas” greeting to “Season’s Greetings,” to spare the feelings of non-Christian passengers. Although, as Bill O’reilly correctly argued, this year, with Hanukkah falling on Thanksgiving day, there’s nothing but the C holiday in the season, which should free those airlines to return to the more parochial salutation.

El Al responded to the complaints by saying the public address system Traveler’s Prayer was initiated by the company chaplain, Rabbi Yochanan Chayut. They also announced that the prayer would be removed by the end of the week.

Rabbi Chayut was ordered to attend a hearing on his decision, before the company brass.


Should Egged, the national bus company, have a rabbi, too? What about the trains? Car rental companies? Large parking lots? major intersections?

I called Rabbi Chayut’s office, where a very polite gentleman answered me that El Al uses the services of 11 kitchens worldwide, and so it requires a Rabbi to monitor their kashrut standards.

Yes, I would concede that El Al needs a mashgiach—kashrut supervisor, for sure. But the great thing about a mashgiach is that the parameters of his or her area of authority are limited to food purchase and preparation, including, I’m sure, Shabbat and holiday related food preparation issues.

But as soon as you promote your mashgiach to company rabbi, he’s bound to seek other things to do once all the kashrut procedures had been taken care off for the day.

Like playing the Traveler’s Prayer over the loudspeaker system.

This gesture may sound harmless enough, and I’m sure the majority of the passengers were not deeply scarred by hearing some Jewish guy asking God to protect them from the dangers of the road (including from wild animals, which is always a bonus).

It’s highly problematic, though, if one promotes it as being a prayer. It isn’t. It’s some text a guy is reading over the PA system. Prayer must be uttered by the individual—or the group—with intent. You’re talking to God, for heaven’s sake, it’s not a commercial.

Just as hearing the shofar blown over the radio does not constitute fulfilling the mitzvah of hearing a shofar on Rosh Hashanah, so is hearing a recorded prayer entirely worthless.

But it has many negative effects, such as being loathed by a few passengers, who are now armed with one more reason to hate their forefathers’ tradition.

It would have worked better if the captain, or one of the flight crew were to read it, just before the exit door speech. Then he or she would be actually asking God to protect them, and the recitation would have value.

Or maybe, after landing, as the crew ineffectually asks the passengers to remain seated as the airplane taxis to the airport, the crew can add Birkat HaGomel, the Thanksgiving Prayer, the prayer one is mandated to say after completing a dangerous journey, traveling overseas and getting out of jail.

But, of course, as these things tend to evolve in work places, the entire thing would become a mockery in a short time, like everything spiritual that’s forced by decree.

Incidentally, I’m hiring a rabbi for my car. It’s a 2011 Chevy which could use spiritual guidance, for sure. Traveler’s prayers mandatory.





50 Responses to “El Al Rabbi Alienates Passengers with Loudspeaker Traveler’s Prayer”

  1. If the Jewish airline of a Jewish State cannot offer a Jewish Prayer for the safety of ALL the passengers on its flight – there is something wrong here! Let the Rabbi give his prayer!

  2. absolutely ridiculous…no one should be forced to listen to others pray or talk on a cell phone

  3. Josh Barrack says:

    Convert to another religion and don’t fly to or from Israel if you don’t like it. Oh but you’re SO progressive. I’ll bet that you spend your millions visiting Muslim countries and raving about the ‘culture.’ The ‘Jewish’ press is socialist dreck.

  4. Yori is grouchy. If this is ” offensive” then so is the Muslim calls to prayer on loudspeakers in Jaffa.

  5. Gil Gilman says:

    I would have agreed with Jonathan Weber , if not for Yori pointing out it is just some guy reading words. But then I would have agreed with Yori if not for Jonathan Weber's comment. After all, what are prayers other than words which are meant…apart from niggunim, that is. Then again, there is the captive audience concept, so I agree with Yori after all. There exists nothing that says a prayer need be loud and obnoxious. If Hashem hears, He hears our mutterings and sighs just as well as a loud speaker.

  6. Prayers should be done in silence. They are between you and god. This is something private and not a road show, some respect, brains and common sense should are advised and applied… <3

  7. Gitta Zarum says:

    On a recent flight, the lady next to me, a Spanish Catholic was reciting her own travellers' prayer whilst I recited mine. Why should anyone find such a prayer objectionable? As someone else commented, when the muezzin call to prayer, not all those within hearing distance of it are Muslim.

  8. Henna du Plessis says:

    May Hashem bless The Rabbi. However, can not force our beliefs on heathens and others. Avraham Avi Hect could possibly show respect by wirting GOD in caps.

  9. Just another reason to use other airlines flying to Israel.

  10. Barbara Arfe says:

    it is still great to ask G-d for help in keeping one safe. ElAl, after all, is a Jewish airline, and probably the only one!

  11. I wish that I'd be able to say the prayer along with someone or say amen. Sometimes its' very hard to see the prayer and say it properly on airplanes. I went on two NBN flights as a journalist and I was disappointed that at least then, the prayer wasn't said over the loudspeaker.

  12. Yori Yanover says:

    Gil Gilman · I finally managed to drive you nuts. My work is done.

  13. I take one exception to one point in this article. It says, hearing the Shofar being blown on the radio is not the same thing as hearing it in the synagogue. I actually don't hear it on the radio but hear it through streaming video on the Internet. I wonder how the author of the article would treat that, I am among the Jewish poor, and can't afford to be a member of a synagogue, let alone afford High Holy Day tickets. Does this make me less of a Jew? I experience the same joy and energy from the blowing of the Shofar when I watch on line as I would if I were in the synagogue. I defy this author to tell me I was not spiritually affected by the experience.

  14. Murray Kane says:

    Abe, shuls in Toronto always set aside tickets for the HH for those who can't afford it, not to mention most Chabad center's.

  15. Chaiya Eitan says:

    I, personally, wouldn't mind it one bit. Anyone who does can put cotton in their ears.

  16. Sad. Why not a prayer? Does it hurt? I think not.

  17. Yori Yanover says:

    If there's a synagogue nearby, you will probably not be rejected if you come in to hear the shofar. You are also performing the mitzvah by standing outside the synagogue and listening. If you are immobile, a call to the nearest Chabad House will get you a place for the holiday and accommodations for prayer, free of charge. In general, I have not heard of Orthodox synagogues that prevent Jews from attending the services — I'm not saying there aren't any, but I never heard of any.

  18. Yori Yanover says:

    Jonathan Weber – I'm all for it, if the rabbi is there, praying. That would be an excellent use of his time. But it's just a recording, much like "Shop at max's house of haberdashery," which does not count as prayer at all, nowhere, no how.

  19. Yori Yanover and to Murray Kane: The problem is also finances. The nearest synagogue is over 30 miles away, I seriously doubt that Chabad would schlep all the way here to take me to and from.

  20. There's nothing offensive in the traveler's prayer unless whoever hears it happens to be an aetheist. It can be recited in English in addition to Hebrew and the flight attendant could ask over the loudspeaker if there are any passengers who want to read it on behalf of their fellow fliers – like being a shaliach b'tzibur in the air. I people all over the plane will be raising their hands.

  21. Herman Christoffel Kuun says:

    I am not Jewish but would greatly appreciate Jewish prayer when on a Jewish airline. I believe what you compromise to win you always lose. Israels greatest threat is compromise.

  22. Yori Yanover says:

    Abe Ezekowitz – Try them. Let me know.

  23. Yori Yanover Will it matter to them if I'm not Orthodox?

  24. John Whitbread says:

    Do not fall for the hype. The very idea of yielding to people who declare their feelings hurt by the legitimate expressions of faith of those who believe is uttely illogical. It is enshrining intolerence not promoting tolerence. If they find G-d to be an offence to them thenwill they please explain why they are so offended by something they claim does not exist.

  25. Leah Zippora says:

    You left out the prayer after using the washroom. Enjoyed reading your article and had a good laugh. Thank G-d for that!

  26. I agree…it should be the pilot who should recite the prayers…it is asking G-d for his help in completing a dangerous journey…even an atheist should be grateful for the good wishes of this prayer…and whoever does not like it…let them fly American…we are all being careful of everybody's else feeling…not to upset them…so what…let them get upset!!!!

  27. Yori Yanover says:

    Abe Ezekowitz – Not in the least. Orthodox is a title slapped on observant Jews by the Reform, to suggest that we are old and stale and dogmatic. All we want is a genuine connection with a Jewish brother or sister.

  28. Yori Yanover says:


  29. Carolin Knox says:

    This entire story is just sad. Why are Jews going to Israel, if not for their heritage. I don't get anyone complaining, or the specific points of the author….it was read over a Mic, there wasn't a Minyan…what?? Israel is the Jewish state, not a mini-me of America. And, if prayers are meant to be silent, I guess you don't go to shul (church,or whatever).

  30. Kjeld Hesselmann says:

    Getting hurt so what? A prayer cannot hurt. But I totally agree with commenters that a sincere prayer must be uttered individually. Why not show the prayer on the planes screens? Those who feel for it can take the text and say the prayer for him/herself. – We live in modern times screens are installed on board El Al.

  31. My dear late husband, a Jew, said he Shema when going into combat situations in Vietnam. He thinks that is one main reason he survived when many of his buddies did not. Why should anyone be offended by a prayer offered to G-d for protection-in any language from virtually any relgious viewpoint?!? G-d is the One who oversees us all!

  32. Chinese says:

    Thank G-D for this Rabbi, I will love to travel in his plane, apart from G-D no one can ensure your safety. There are millions of thing s can cause a plane to crash.

    remember titanic, even G-D can not sink it. If those people prayed instead of challenging G-D, then it would have been preserved.

    I assure those who are complaining, that they do not dare to speaker a word in public against Muslims prayers in Islamic area. Further more this group likely will first cry out loud to G-D when their plane about to crash.

    when US schools stopped prayers in the morning? Remember all the horrible killing since?


  33. Roy Wallace says:

    You don't want to hear Atheists saying 'god doesn't exist', so why would we want to hear someone talking about how he does? Double standards for the lose people.

  34. Javid Khan says:

    I am muslim and I appricate the travel prayer its one God so why not, I don’t mind at all

  35. "My first reaction to this story was: El Al has its own rabbi? Should Egged, the national bus company, have a rabbi, too? What about the trains? Car rental companies? Large parking lots? major intersections?" what's next? But I still think that the prayer should be made available for those who would want it.

  36. Larry Singleton says:

    What a rotten stinking websit. I lost a bunch of work because of some crummy gliche. I usually find it's because the website is a huge Ad Whore.

  37. This is a very beautiful prayer. Only a stupid person could have problems with it.

  38. Carol Novis says:

    The issue isn't whether it is offensive. It's prayer being forced on people sitting in an airplane. What's next – shacharit over the loudspeaker? (Also not offensive, but intrusive.) Another issue is the El Al rabbi expanding his role from kashrut mashgiach to enforcer of prayers. And if he then decides that men can't sit next to women?

  39. Yori Yanover says:

    Ileana Adriana Stan-Huss · No one is trying to repress the prayer. But when it's broadcast over the PA system it's not prayer. If a passenger or a member of the crew were to say it out loud it would have been wonderful, just as you're saying. But as a recording it's worthless. It's not talking to God, it's just noise, according to Jewish law.

  40. Yori Yanover says:

    Roy Wallace ·I don't have a problem with atheists saying God doesn't exist. I just think that for people who say they don't believe in God, they sure spend a lot of time yapping about Him.

  41. Yori Yanover says:

    Sharon D. Metro · Again, no problem with the prayer, problem with it being just a recording on the loudspeaker system. Then it's nothing.

  42. The same people complaining about this would say nothing if the muslim call to pray was played over the loud speaker.

  43. e says:

    Why embarrass a rabbi who had good intentions ? Maybe not everyone liked it but to publicize it is so tacky.

  44. Wayne Cook says:

    It's amazing how anti out loud anything has become.

  45. Eileen Chupak Baranes says:

    Everytime I fly I say before the flight tefilat haderech. It would be nice that EL AL praying for everyone on the plane.

  46. On my first El Al flight from North America to Israel in 1978, HATIKVAH was played over the intercom system as we landed. I was so very proud. Perhaps this should be reinstated.

  47. Yechiel Baum says:

    As the Jewish national airlines of Israel, the tifilat Haderech should be heard – same as the emergency exit announcement which is silly since once oyu are crashing, what difference if oyur seat is in the upright position or not) however, if the arabs can blast their prayers in the streets and church chime their beels every sunday morning, why should El AL be ashamed of the Jewish Travelers prayers.

  48. Moishe Sachs says:

    There's no purpose nor is there a mitzvah to say this prayer over the speaker. I don't see why it would bother anyone, but it's beside the point. The point is that it makes no sense to say a prayer a rabbi or rabbis wrote for those who want to say it privately. If someone wants to say it & doesn't know how, he or she can ask someone to say it with them.

  49. Why use a loud speaker, reminds me of Islam.

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