Torah Observant Travel

Did you know that Scripture is pro traveling? What started with Adam and Eve moving out of the garden later turned into Abraham leaving his country, the exodus from Egypt, and requiring the Israelites to be in Jerusalem for the feasts of Shavuot, Sukkot, and Unleavened Bread. We've also heard of infant Yahusha fleeing his homeland to the safety of Egypt, and of course his famous words, "Go into all nations." While we think of travel being limited before cars and airplanes there is plenty of evidence of Israelite exploration in North America during the reign of King Solomon. Paul not only preached the good news in Israel, but also in Syra, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and possibly Spain and Britain!

So if you are taking vacation or having a getaway this summer you are in good company. As Daniel showed us, we are to keep YHWH's instructions even in place where that is not easy or convenient. Do you want to do this? Because if so, you will need to plan your life around keeping the commandments. It's not realistic or wise to schedules or lives and then try and squeeze in Torah observance. Set yourself up for success by learning to plan your days around YHWH's instructions, including when you are away from home.

How to observe Torah while traveling:

-Pay attention to the calendar. Before you buy tickets or make reservations double check when the feast days are and consider if you want to be out of town during those special times. If you go somwhere for Sukkot, think about planning your stay and actitivies around the no-work days.

-Consider where you will stay. Particularly if you are planning on celebrating a feast while away you will want to have space to do so, whether by staying at a campsite or renting a house or small cottage. Will you need to have a place with at least a small kitchen? Will you need to find a place to go on the Sabbath?

-Let your hosts know. If you're staying with friends or relatives make sure they are aware that you don't eat pork or shellfish (it's also a good idea to let them know what you DO eat), and let them know that Shabbat is a set apart day for you, and what that looks like. Having expectations set up front will make things easier for everyone.

-Look ahead. Before you leave do a little research on the area you will be in. Is there a congregation you can attend on Sabbath? Are there any restaurants that look like they would be friendly with a Biblically clean diet? When I spent Sukkot with Torah to the Tribes I was able to visit a sukkah exhibit at the Oregon Jewish Museum. You might be unexpectedly surprised about what's going on at your destination.

-Pack snacks. Having food to eat when you're hungry is just about the handiest thing ever. This goes even for a day trip. You spent more time at the museum than anticipated, your flight was delayed, the place you planned on eating closed early. You're stuck in traffic. Odds are someone will get hungry and there won't be anything handy nearby. Have at least a few things to eat in case you can't find anything Biblically clean and healthy. It will save lots of headache and frustration, not to mention money and time. Airlines will let you take solid food (sandwiches, trail mix, apples, carrot sticks, etc.) which will be considerably better quality and less expensive than what most airports have available.

-Look for vegetarian restaurants. When you're on a Biblically clean diet vegetarian food is miraculous! No need to worry about cross contamination or what's in something. If that's not an option look for places that are vegetarian friendly. Most restaurants have their menus online so you can see what your options are ahead of time. Restaurants that accommodate vegetarian and special-needs diets are typically your best bet to eat at to get Biblically clean food, as the wait staffs are typically more informed about ingredients and the chefs are used to adjusting things when needed.

-Where will you be on Shabbat? If no congregation is to be found or if the service is short, will you want to spend the rest of the day in a hotel room? Look for a beach or park area or other free place to visit to spend time on the Sabbath. If you are able to find a congregation to attend, call ahead and see if they have a meal after service that you can attend.

-Shop ahead of time. If you are going to be out of town for Sabbath you will need to make your purchases before it starts, just as you would at home. That includes buying food to eat on the Sabbath, and getting gas if needed. You'll also want to think about if you want to check into your hotel before Sabbath if that's where you are staying.

-Pack a cooler. This is a must if you are staying somewhere without a fridge! On Friday you can get ice and pack a Shabbat picnic for the next day.

-Think about when you will travel. Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong with driving a car on the Sabbath. Without driving attending congregation wouldn't be feasible for most of our members, so I think that's a positive thing. That said, there is a big difference between driving 20 minutes to attend Shabbat service versus a fifteen hour drive to get to vacation, which isn't exactly restful. The same for air travel, which can be physically exhausting for passengers.

-What time is it there? If you will be switching time zones be aware of what time it will be there when you arrive and when the Sabbath or feasts start at your destination.

-Take your Bible. Being on vacation doesn't mean Scripture studies should be put on hold. That might look a little different than at home but deliberately making study time part of your trip is one of the best things you can do for your time away. You will also want to be able to read appropriate passages for feast days and or study on Sabbath, if those are happening while you're gone. You can also take teachings to listen to on the flight or in the care.

Related posts:
Eating Biblically Clean at Cookouts
Biblical Instructions: Have To or Get To?