Riding on Camels through the desert in Israel..or perhaps sleeping on camels in the desert in Israel

It is very common for us to set out on a road trip and after driving for a bit, someone will recite Tefilat Haderech (the traveler’s prayer) and everyone else will respond ‘amen.’

When Rachel and I did a week-long camel riding trip in the desert in Rajasthan, we left the city on camel back and I guess that at some point the same thing would happen as if we were in a car; we would say Tefilat Haderech – only this time while on the back of a camel. I had the same situation when going for a four-day camel trek in Israel, though with the group I was part of, we mostly walked and did not ride the camels.

So can one say Tefilat Haderech while riding on a camel… or what about a horse or any other animal for that matter?

This is obviously an issue because people were traveling on animals before cars. According to halacha/Jewish law one should stop their animal if possible. This would apply to stopping a car as well. Stopping a ship or a plane may not be possible.

Some other issue to take into acount is that one should not say a bracha if there is an unpleasant smell. The question would be: if there is a bad smell coming from the camel (a combination of camel breath, camel farts, and wet camel hair generally constitutes a very bad smell!) one should probably get off the camel and walk a few feet away.

The first time I experienced this was in Los Angeles, California. I was spending Shabbat there and my friend took me to one of the Chabad houses. We got there fifteen minutes before Mincha and the Friday night service were to begin, and a good thing that was! Set up was a small Kiddush and there were some dozen men eating and drinking. This initially struck me as strange because my entire life I have been accustomed to there being a Kiddush after the services, not before.

The Shaliach/Rabbi explained it to me. “We’re not having a big meal because this would not be permitted. One should not eat late on a Friday afternoon, so not to spoil the appetite for the Friday night Shabbat meal. What we have is a small snack; some crackers, a few dips, a bit of cold cuts, and of course a few l’chaims on whisky and vodka. This way everyone can have a bit of a schmooze and catch up on the week’s happenings before the service begins and there is no pressure to talk during the service. Further, many people have had a long day at work and are tired and hungry and want to rush through the service and go home. But if we have a couple of l’chaims and a light snack, people then have the energy to sing and dance through the service.”

I really like this idea. At the moment I don’t have a synagogue of my own but if I did, maybe I’d implement it. I can’t see any halachic issue with it, provided one does not eat too much and ruin their appetite for the Friday night meal. But I think it’s nice to sit down with some friends and catch up on the week before the davening starts.

What are your thoughts on this? Do they do this in your shul? Do you like this idea? Yes or no? Please share a comment. Thanks.