A new Minyanim initiative has been launched at Newark Airport.
The organizers released the following information to TLS:
Baruch Hashem there has been an overwhelming response to the minyan initiative at EWR. Please bear with us as we fine tune the logistics to ensure that this can run efficiently and in a well-organized manner.
https://chat.whatsapp.com/Hr1bgoDIs7y71uihfSXAzJ
There are already discussions of leasing out a small space in the airport and having a sefer torah on location. In this initial phase we’ll be using this chat to organize ad-hoc minyanim until we can transition to a better system with set minyanim times and the use of a minyan app. It would be recommended to archive this chat and to use it only when traveling so that the constant messages won’t be a distraction.
To further help in the planning, (if you are a frequent flier), please use the following form to give us some indication of your travel routines so we can assess popular demand.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdO2v0-RiGJ6cSkCd9FP3gSjeXyCdKc9TCsQy4zrjEMkDj64Q/viewform
When asked if he was satisfied with the Newark Airport minyanim, one frequent flyer from Lakewood told reporters on Wednesday: “Not really – because I like to daven at a slow pace, and they fly through the whole davening.”
The frequent flyer added: “And the peculiar thing about that is that, unlike most of my airline flights, these minyanim are never delayed or postponed; the Chazan always take off on time – so I never have a chance to have a relaxed davening experience with all the bells and whistles.”
“I’m lucky if I can find myself a decent reclining seat, with a tray table for my tefillin and my siddur, before the Olam finishes flying through Aleinu and right past the Yom!”
“And I usually get an aisle seat in the airport minyan,” he complained, “far away from the Chazan, but right next to dozens of angry passengers camped out endlessly on the floor, hoping to find a make-up flight that gets them ANYWHERE – as long as it’s far away from the airline terminal floor!”