By Rabbi Jonathan Gewirtz
Space Travel
Jews and outer space aren’t two things that generally go together. Though there have been a handful of Jewish astronauts, two of whom were tragically killed on missions, we seem to focus more on “inner space,” that of exploring ourselves and who we can become.
However, the space I’m thinking off is neither inner nor outer. I’m talking about space in terms of how much room people have to move around. It’s an idea I had while traveling on an airplane, en route from Eretz Yisrael back to America.
Travel has changed dramatically over the years. Historically, getting from one place to another was a time-consuming affair. Whether you were traveling by donkey or camel, or maybe riding on a wagon pulled by an animal, you didn’t get far in a day.
Even journeys by ship could take weeks or months, though steamships managed to lower the travel time involved. Fast-forward to today, and you can travel in hours what had previously taken many times longer. You get to your destination so much faster, that it’s got to be better, right? Well, certainly, so, but there are some drawbacks.
Imagine you had to spend twelve hours traveling on a wagon. You might have a plush interior, room to get up and move around, and if you wanted, you could stop and stretch your legs. Traveling by ship limited your ability to stop and stroll a bit, but you definitely had a chance to walk around the deck, maybe catch some sun by the rail overlooking the sea, and move from room to room on the boat. Trains had sleeper cars, dining cars, and game cars, plus special observation cars.
Sure, you were in traveling mode for those hours, but you weren’t really locked into your space – unlike air travel, where we are forced to remain in our seats, in a small area, for most of the flight. Even if you get up to wash your hands, or maybe get a drink from the galley, you’re headed right back to that small seat. How about davening? The way some people crowd and cram the galleys of the airplane to pray is enough to give claustrophobia to a tiny flea. That’s no way to daven!
Now, think back to those astronauts. In the early days of space travel, they were nearly bolted into their seats and couldn’t even get up if they wanted to. It’s gotten better with the introduction of space shuttles and space stations, but the quarters are still pretty tight.
As I sat there in my seat, jockeying for armrest space and wishing the person behind me wouldn’t yank on my seatback as a means for getting up, (and yes, I had asked them ahead of time to be careful, nevertheless they woke me with a start several times,) I had a thought:
The faster we travel, the less room, and potentially comfort, we have to do it. In Victorian times, one of the heydays of leisure travel, people took dozens of trunks of clothing and belongings, and reveled in the posh staterooms and train cars, staying in the finest hotels along the way. Now? They shove you in a sardine can for half a day, but at least at the end, you’re in The Promised Land.
I know I’ve taken you on quite a journey, but do you see where I’m heading? It occurred to me that we willingly exchange our freedom for the ability to go farther. We can’t stop and smell the roses, or get up and take a leisurely stroll anymore. We are limited in what we can and can’t do, by the FAA, airlines, and other governing bodies. And yet, we agree to this. Why? Because we’re getting somewhere we really want to be! We understand that being free is nice, but making progress is more important to us.
By now, I’m sure you know what I’m getting at. Nobody likes to be told what to do. Nobody likes being tied down or having their freedom of movement limited. The Torah and Mitzvos can seem like they’re holding us back, not letting us do what we want.
Well guess what? That’s absolutely true. There are things the Torah will stop you from doing. There are places you can’t go and you will have a number of other limitations. BUT – like taking an airplane for a spaceship, you will go higher and farther because you followed the rules. You’re strapping yourself in for the ride of your life, and you don’t want to waste time just to be a little more comfortable. You know you’re living your life with a destination in mind, and it’s worth a little discomfort along the way.
But more than that, the rules of the Torah are protecting you from injury and danger on the road, too. How we think, speak, and act, are all influenced by Hashem’s Five-Star travel guide, ensuring we have a quality trip wherever we go, and at the place of our final destination.
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