I will be flying to New York in August to attend my niece's wedding and to teach Torah. Those are valid reasons to leave the Holy Land on a temporary basis.

Should I organize a Minyan on the plane? The Rosh in Tractate Brachot and Shulchan Aruch HaRav O.H.:90 both rule that saying Kaddish and Kedusha in a Minyan is a fulfillment of the  Mitzva, found in the verse in Vayikra 22, "V'NIKDASHTI B'TOCH BNEI YISRAEL", "And I, G-d, shall be publicly sanctified in the midst of the Children of Israel." Rabbi Moshe Feinstein in Igrot Moshe, O.H.:2, ruled that Yeshiva students must arrange their Torah study to insure praying with a Minyan, even if they feel more inspired praying alone.

However, making a Minyan on a plane involves many difficulties. For example, the Minyan may inconvenience other passengers, interrupt the flight attendants and may endanger the Minyan members during sudden turbulence.

Therefore, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach in Halichot Shlomo and Rabbi Shmuel Vosner both ruled that one should not form a Minyan on a flight. The reason is found in Midrash Vayikra Rabbi 9, "DERECH ERETZ KADMAH LATORAH" (Common courtesy and consideration for others PRECEDES the Torah). Therefore, mourners who need to say Kaddish on a plane can fulfill their obligation B'SHAAT HADCHAK (in times of great need) with a single daily Kaddish, recited with a Minyan, before or after the flight.

Rabbi Chaim Scheinberg ruled that a Minyan on a plane remains permissible only when the flight attendants allow it. The Shemoneh Esreh should be recited standing, but the Shulchan Aruch O.H. 94 rules that one should remain seated if standing is a danger. This ruling can be applied to plane travel if one will be standing during sudden turbulence.

If so, should I organize a Minyan on a plane? My answer is to utilize the so called

5^TH (!) section of the Shulchan Aruch which is COMMON SENSE AND COMMON COURTESY!