I flew with the family for a vacation abroad. Everyone already knows that I do not fly before it is clear to me beyond any doubt that I have minyanim for all the tefillos, all the tefillos including along the way to the destination.
I flew to the destination with minyanim. Minchah I prayed early, and for Ma’ariv I thought I would pray in the shul in Terminal 3. I arrived at the airport and it turned out that they had made a slight change and our flight was leaving from Terminal 1.
I began to try to organize a minyan for Ma’ariv, but everyone was busy getting to the gate and boarding the plane first. There was almost a minyan, but in the end one withdrew and we were stuck without a minyan.
I was very distressed and I said to the Creator of the world: ‘I tried so much, I exerted myself so much that everything would be proper with minyanim, and now my feeling will be bad the whole way if I miss a prayer with the congregation!!!’
Before I finished speaking, the announcement declared that the opening of the gates for our flight was delayed by half an hour.
At that moment a large minyan was organized and we prayed Maariv, (apparently the most emotional and joyous prayer of my life). I connected so deeply to the words of the first blessing: “With understanding He changes the times and exchanges the seasons.” As soon as we finished Maariv the gates opened!!!
ר.מ.
