As someone who used services of more than 25 airlines in the past, not once I've heard religious music or prayers on the aircraft. Never flown on Middle Eastern airlines but I'm sure that none of them play this kind of music. p.s. But I have a mezuzah on my jet.... bathroom doors included...:-)))

...when the plane lands safely. And don't forget to read the book, Much Ado About Nothing.

It's a private company

is incorporate the prayer, spoken in various languages, into the planes' sound channels that carry music. That way, the prayer would be optional -- available but not intrusive to those who have issues with it.

we are evangelical christians and i am of arab lebanese origin and i don't mind listening to a prayer as long as is said to the God of Abraham ; actually ,every time that we are in a plane when the plane is taking off we bow our heads and i repeat psalm 121

If a lot of customers are complaining e about then I would say stop it or lower the volume. Non-Jewish workers complaining about it can go screw themselves. They know El Al is a Jewish airline. They can find another job. There are a lot of Israelis looking for work that will replace them.

if was an Israeli therefore JEWISH airline... It RESPECTED our religion. If El Al plans to become a NON-Jewish airline why should I pay its higher fares??? I will fly Alitalia or another cheaper airline. BUT MOSTLY AS A PROTEST FOR ITS TURNING ITS BACK ON JUDAISM.

EL AL is NOT a Jewish airlines! It's a private Israeli airline that serves mainly the Israeli public who's not 100% Jewish. You want a Jewish airline? Create one with Jewish pilots and crew members, mezuzah and tfilat haderech, separated flights from men and women

Excellent suggestion .

what the heck is that? why does El Al have a company rabbi? What business has such a position? That's crazy? Prayers are medieval, superstitious none sense. If some one wants to pray, fine, they can do so in silence, where it does not bother anyone, but no where else should it be seen or encouraged! it's embarrassing!

Why an airline has to be jewish or christian or muslim or buddhist? I didn't know airlines had religion...

I do not subscribe to any religion. That being said, I have to admit that at the slightest disturbance, be that in the air or on the ground, I will pray and make promises to every deity of which I've ever heard. So far, either one or all have listened for which I'm thankful.

out of prayers.Time secular people open their eyes.

plus you are not 'yotzi' hearing a loudspeaker play it anyway so who is kidding who?

I believe it has something to do with the paint used for decorating the plane.

One where the food is kosher and you can usually get a drop of Israeli wine. I think ElAl should take Tefilat Haderech off the intercom (which I can never hear anyway) and print it on the back pf the boarding pass (the small bit you get to keep). If it's printed pretty enough people will keep them as souvenirs. I have about 3-4 copies of Tefilat Haderech with me when I travel.

One day this paper will hire a reporter who will do more than write like a high school student. Did the non Jewish passenger have a name he spoke to. Did he demand his identity be secret or is it the non Jewish passenger they spoke to doesn't exist. A non Jew wouldn't be offended by teffilla haderech. Heck he wouldn't even know what it is. It would just be some foreign words in Hebrew that he would not understand. And US airlines and all US businesses clearly celebrate Christmas. The season in the US is Christmas and there is no reason to pretend otherwise. Non Jews who come here know Israel is a Jewish state and that El Al is an Israeli airline. They expect to see Judaism here and are not offended by it.

It is a good thing to listen to Tefilat Haderech on an el al flight, It is to bad that these employees are in an inner psychological exile., get a jewish education and stop trying to ingratiate yourselves to the other nations.

We dont need your "holier than thou" attitude all the time . You want to be religious and thats just fine ,but dont do it in a combative mode all the time . It really pisses people off. Just go quiety about your buisness and let others do the same. Enough already !!!

I have flown on Royal Jordanian several times. At the beginning of each leg of each flight, the Muslim prayer for the traveler is recited over the PA system.Aside for that, a map showing the directionto Mecca is shown on the large screens at all times. Interesting how that okay, how the self hating Jews like Tom from TA wont complain about that, just the opposite he would extol Muslim values. Whether you like it or not Israel is a Jewish country. If you DON'T like it....don't live here. There are plenty of places who would love to share your Anti-Jewish views,until they eventually turn on you. I think ELAL should not buckle to a little pressure and be proud that they represent the only Jewish country in the world.

Actually all major airlines has clergies on staff. I am not religious but I am tolerant of other peoples beliefs. I read the entire text in Hebrew and English. I have not found anything remotely offensive in fact it is quite lovely.

The real debate is not to discuss about El Al having tfilat hadrech or not, but what does it mean Israel being a Jewish country. Does that mean that it has to be a religious country with a judiciary system based on halacha or a democratic country with its own sets of laws regardless of religion? Because right now, Israel is in a serious identity crisis. Israel cannot be democratic AND Jewish at the same time. It just doesn't work

Based on comments # 18, 25 and 40 the headline should have read "El Al Rabbi Irks Militant Israeli Helonim (Secularists)".

I think it's beautiful that El Al's Rabbi prays that its passengers travel safely. Who finds this unpleasant and why?

me to be more discreet.

With so many terrorists in this world looking for opportunities to attack airlines, not only El Al, it is by the Grace of G-d that they do not often succeed. Some people also recite Psalms 91, 121 and 112, astonishingly beautiful in any language, incomparably better than five minutes more of 'Muzak'.

'May it be your will, O L-rd our G-d and G-d of our fathers, to lead us in peace, to direct our steps in peace, to uphold us in peace and to guide us in life, joy and peace to our desired destination. Deliver us from every enemy , ambush and danger, and from all afflictions that trouble the world. Send blessing on all the work of our hands. Let us obtain favour, lovingkindness and mercy from You and from all who see us. Hear our supplications, for You are a G-d Who hears supplications and prayer. Blessed are You, the L-rd Who hears prayer.'

and neither is Israel a Jewish state. Now stop the awful dual loyalty from diaspora Jews towards Israel. Enough of Jewish support for a non-Jewish and generally anti-Jewish political entity. Israeli can't pull on the world's heartstrings by calling itself the worlds only Jewish state. Stop Israel marketing itself and benefiting from by calling itself the Jewish State.