Davening on a Plane

So what does this have to do with davening on a plane?

The Shulchan Aruch (OC 98:4) writes (loose translation):

Tefillah is in place of a korban. Therefore, one should concentrate as if actually bringing a sacrifice. Improper intent can invalidate a korban. Likewise, Shemoneh Esrei should be recited while standing, just as the Avodah was performed standing. One should have a fixed place for davening, just as each korban had a designated place. It is also proper to have special clothing for tefillah, just as the Kohanim had specific garments for the Avodah. However, not everyone can afford this.

From these words, we see that if one fails to daven in special clothing, he has still fulfilled his obligation. But what about standing? Should sitting during Shemoneh Esrei be treated as a mere deficiency, or does it invalidate the tefillah?

The Shulchan Aruch answers in another place (94:4): If a person is riding on a donkey, he need not dismount but may daven while riding. The Mishnah Berurah explains that requiring him to dismount would cause him to rush and lose focus. Chazal therefore permitted davening while riding. HaRav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l, however, ruled that one should not daven while driving, since distracted driving can be dangerous. (Davening on a donkey was not forbidden — because donkeys are the original self-driving vehicles.)

The Shulchan Aruch continues: So, too, if someone is on a boat or wagon, if he is able to stand, he should do so; otherwise, he may sit.

Everything depends on the route, his comfort, and his state of mind. Some are stringent that one should at least stand for the first three brachos, and it is best to follow that view. The Rema adds that even one who sits for Shemoneh Esrei should at least stand for the bows and for the three steps afterward.

The halacha is clear: in pressing circumstances, one may daven Shemoneh Esrei while sitting. HaRav Shlomo Zalman ruled that this applies to an airplane as well. Standing is difficult, if not impossible, and davening in the aisle or by the bathrooms both disturbs others and compromises kavana.

The Rema also writes that if one cannot step back at the end of Shemoneh Esrei while riding, he should have the animal take three steps backward. Rav Shlomo Zalman extended this to a wheelchair: one should roll back the distance of three steps. This applies equally to someone davening in a car. So the next time your flight circled the airport before landing, perhaps the pilot was just taking three steps back!

The sefer Ishei Yisrael records questions asked to Rav Chaim Kanievsky, zt”l, for which a written response was received. A few are directly relevant:

If one is davening on a bus, he may step off when the bus reaches his stop even in middle of Shemoneh Esrei. This is no worse than davening while traveling, which the Shulchan Aruch permitted.

If one can daven Mincha sitting before sunset or standing only after sunset, which is preferable? Rav Chaim ruled that davening before sunset takes precedence.

If one can daven Maariv after Plag HaMincha standing or after nightfall sitting, which is preferable? Rav Chaim ruled that it is better to daven after Plag while standing. Also, it is better to daven after chatzos standing than before chatzos sitting, even though typically davening after chatzos is considered transgressing the words of the sages.

The Shulchan Aruch concludes that if one davened Shemoneh Esrei while sitting and later reaches a proper place where he can daven standing, he should repeat Shemoneh Esrei. The Mishnah Berurah, however, writes that our minhag is not to repeat.

May all our tefillos take flight and soar to new heights.