El Al issues appeal on wing and a prayer

In this file photo, Orthodox Jews pray during the Jewish New Year's ritual Tashlich at Tel Aviv beach.

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's El Al Airlines has a message for its religious Jewish passengers who may disturb other people by flooding the aisles to pray during long-haul flights: It's no sin to sit down.


Many observant Jews, especially members of the ultra-Orthodox, rise from their seats on El Al and other flights to and from the Jewish state to worship in accordance with ritual law dictating they pray three times a day.


They sometimes jostle sleeping passengers and block the aisles, leading to confrontations with secular travellers.


El Al recently distributed a booklet to religious Jewish communities, detailing proper flight etiquette.


"There is no sin involved in the action of sitting," said the "Handbook for Observant El Al passengers". The "rules", by prominent rabbis, are written in both Hebrew and English.


"It is important to avoid praying in large gatherings and it is preferable to pray in small groups in one's seat, on the condition that there is no exposure of nakedness in that area," one rabbi wrote, referring to immodestly dressed passengers.

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