From the Ravs Desk: Flying from Israel to America on Friday When Shabbos Begins in Israel

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Flying from Israel to America on Friday When Shabbos Begins in Israel

Question

Due to the current situation in Israel, flights are extremely limited. I have the opportunity to fly from Israel to Los Angeles on Friday, arriving in Los Angeles before Shabbos begins there, but after Shabbos has already begun in Israel. I was told that this is forbidden because one must observe Shabbos according to the place he departed from while on the plane. Is this correct? If so, is there anything I can do on the plane when Shabbos begins in Israel?

Answer

This information is incorrect. It is fully permitted to purchase the ticket and fly, as long as you arrive in America before Shabbos begins in your location. It is completely irrelevant when Shabbos begins in Israel and you do not have to keep Shabbos on the plane even after Shabbos arrives in Israel.

Explanation

There is no source, logic, or halachic basis to claim that a person on an airplane must observe Shabbos according to any time zone other than the one he is currently in. Shabbos depends solely on one’s present physical location. As long as sunset has not yet occurred where the person is, it is not Shabbos for him—regardless of where he departed from. To suggest otherwise would lead to absurd conclusions, such as claiming that someone who flies from Israel to America on Thursday would need to begin keeping Shabbos six or seven hours early simply because Shabbos has begun in Israel. Clearly, no such concept exists. Why the Confusion? The mistake likely comes from unrelated halachic discussions, such as: Certain leniencies regarding fast days while traveling, where some opinions consider the place of departure and Stringencies involving crossing the international dateline or one who travels to a location in the North or South Pole. However, none of these apply to Shabbos in this scenario, and there is no halachic source to require observing Shabbos based on the departure location while flying east or west.

Sources:

See Piskeiy Teshuvos 344:3 footnote 33

See regarding north and south pole: See Machazik Bracha 344:4; Sefer Habris 4:11; Rav Poalim 2:4; Piskeiy Teshuvos 344:4

See regarding international dateline: See Tiferes Yisarel beginning of Brachos; Shoel Umeishiv Daled 2:154; Eretz Tzevi 1:44-45; Kaf Hachaim 261:19; Erav Poalav Sod Yesharim 4; Minchas Elazar 4:42; Divrei Yehosef 8; Even Yikarah Kama 11; Chavalim Beni’imim 4:3; Bnei Tziyon 1:14; Betzel Hachochma 5:103; Or Letziyon 1:14; Hazemanim Behalacha 8; Vayivarech David 2:168; Sefer Agan Hasohar p. 436; Igros Kodesh 21:310; Likkutei Sichos 37:183; Shulchan Menachem 2:155; Piskeiy Teshuvos 344:3 footnote 26; Migdal Or Los Angeles 7:111-383 Shaar Sheiyni

See regarding a fast day: Igros Moshe 3:96; Betzeil Hachochmah 1:31; Chavatzeles Hasharon 1:43; Yaskil Avdi 8:31; Piskeiy Teshuvos 562:2; Shevet Halevi 8:261; See Nitei Gavriel Bein Hametzarim 4:5

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.