Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline

On a Wing and a Prayer

October 23, 2025

Q My flight departs in the afternoon and lands late at night, after chatzos. When should I daven Ma’ariv?

A Ma’ariv consists of three parts: Krias Shma, Birchos Krias Shma (two brachos before Shma and two after), and Shmoneh Esrei. The time for all of these is night. Chazal decreed that Krias Shma must be recited before chatzos to prevent forgetting (Brachos 2a). If one does forget, he can say it all night (O.C. 235:3).

Some say Chazal only required this for Krias Shma itself, because it is a mitzvah deOreisa, and the decree did not apply to Shmoneh Esrei or Birchos Krias Shma (Ketzos Hashulchan 27:13). Others say the decree applies to all three components of Ma’ariv (Aruch Hashulchan 235:12). Lechat’chilah one should say them all before chatzos.

If you find a spot on the plane where you can say Shmoneh Esrei with the proper concentration, daven Ma’ariv normally sometime between tzeis hakochavim and chatzos. If you don’t have such a place, it is better to recite it after chatzos with focus, so recite only Krias Shma on board, before chatzos. Later, say Birchos Krias Shma (with Krias Shma; Piskei Teshuvos ibid. 10) and Shmoneh Esrei in a suitable location on land. The reason you should postpone Birchos Krias Shma—even though they don’t require the same level of concentration as Shmoneh Esrei—is to fulfill the ideal of smichas ge’ulah litfilah (placing the bracha of ge’ulah close to Shmoneh Esrei).

If you will be able to catch a minyan after landing, some poskim (see fn. 68 in Piskei Teshuvos ibid.) suggest that even if you can daven properly during the flight, it is better to wait for tfilah betzibur. Others argue that davening on time, even bichidus, is better (Piskei Teshuvos ibid. citing Or LeTziyon 2:15). Both views have support.