Daily Halacha - Guidelines for Travelers, 20th of Sivan 5777

Is a traveler allowed to pray in the middle of a hiking trail?

Those who go on hiking trips and pray in the middle of the trail lose many important virtues of: prayer in a synagogue, as a person's prayer is only heard in a synagogue; prayer in an open area - it is forbidden to pray in an open area [Shulchan Aruch 90, 5]; and many times they lose the virtue of praying with a minyan, and they should make an effort to find a minyan.

Is it permissible to leave for a trip before the morning prayer in order to arrive early?

It is forbidden for a person to set out on their journey before praying, as it is written, "Righteousness shall go before him and set his feet on the way." Therefore, those traveling on a trip who want to leave early and pray there are violating the prohibition of setting out before prayer. However, if one leaves before dawn, it is permitted [Yalkut Yosef Siman 89].

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