Travel - Davening on a Plane

QUESTION: When traveling by airplane, is one required to stand for shmoneh esrei, or may the tefilah be recited while sitting?

ANSWER: Igros Moshe (OC 4:20) writes that if one recited shmoneh esrei on an airplane while seated, there is no need to repeat the tefila even if one can do so when the plane lands. Moreover, if standing on the plane would be difficult or would cause a lack of concentration, he writes that it is better to daven sitting. However, it is proper to stand up at the places in shmoneh esrei where one is required to bow, so that the bowing can be done properly. Obviously, if one can wait to daven until the plane lands, it is proper to do so. In general, many gedolim have objected to standing in the aisle or congregating with a minyan in areas that disturb passengers and stewardesses.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.