Every time my wife and I get on a plane, as we're heading above 10,000 feet, one of us will take out a Siddur and say the Tefillat Haderech, the traveler's prayer, and then pass the prayer book to the other. It's pure superstition, an unusual departure from our normally logical movements. This class came out of a desire to better understand the sources of this prayer.
Travelling is scary. Journeys are scary. Sometimes we set out on a road, and we don't know where we are going. This is the response to these emotions by the Rabbis of the Talmud.
On the topic of prayers recited while traveling and in times of danger, the Gemara discusses the traveler’s prayer. When he appeared to him, Elijah the Prophet said to Rav Yehuda brother of Rav Sala Ḥasida: Do not get angry and you will not sin. Do not get drunk and you will not sin. And when you set out on a journey, consult with your Creator, and then set out. Rabbi Ya’akov said that Rav Ḥisda said: That is the traveler’s prayer. And Rabbi Ya’akov said that Rav Ḥisda said: It is not only good advice, but established halakha that anyone who sets out on a journey must recite the traveler’s prayer prior to embarking on his journey.
See! It's Halacha! Or, at least, it was enough of a collective neuroses that everyone had to say it. But what is it's formulation?
The Gemara asks: What is the formula for the traveler’s prayer? The Gemara answers: May it be Your will, Lord my God, to lead me to peace, direct my steps to peace, and guide me to peace, and rescue me from the hands of any enemy or ambush along the way, and send blessing to the work of my hands, and let me find grace, kindness, and compassion in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see me. Blessed are You, Lord, Who hears prayer.
So there it is! The traveler's prayer! Except (spoiler alert) this won't be the final version.
Is there anything in this version that surprises you? Is there anything that you expected to be in the traveler's prayer that isn't here (yet)?
We're now going to explore three changes/additions/clarifications which were made to the traveler's prayer: A change in pronouns (from the 'me' to the 'we'), a clarification of time (when does a journey truly begin?), and how often must it be said.
אמר אביי לעולם לישתף איניש נפשיה בהדי צבורא היכי נימא יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלהינו שתוליכנו לשלום וכו'
Abaye says: at all times a person should associate himself with the congregation and should not pray for himself alone. How should he say it? May it be Your will, Lord our God, that You lead us to peace, etc., in the plural.
One should not prayer a short prayer in the singular but rather in the plural, as this is the way one's prayer can be heard
אימת מצלי אמר רבי יעקב אמר רב חסדא משעה שמהלך בדרך
The Gemara discusses specific details pertaining to this prayer. When does one pray? Rabbi Ya’akov said that Rav Ḥisda said: From when one sets out on his journey, and not before.
(ה) א"צ לומר אותה אלא פעם אחת ביום אפי' אם ינוח בעיר באמצע היום אבל אם דעתו ללון בעיר ואח"כ נמלך ויצא ממנה לעבור חוצה לה או לשוב לביתו צריך לחזור ולהתפלל אותה פעם אחרת:
One only has to say the prayer once per day, even if they have rested in another city in the middle of the day. But if it is their intention to stay over in the city, and afterwards they walk and leave it to go outside the city or to return home, then one has to return and say the prayer again.
עד כמה אמר רבי יעקב אמר רב חסדא עד פרסה
How long must one’s planned journey be in order to require him to recite this prayer (Ba’al Halakhot Gedolot)? Rabbi Ya’akov said that Rav Ḥisda said: At least a parasang.
עד פרסה -...אפי' אין לו לילך אלא עד פרסה אבל דרך פחות מפרסה אין צריך להתפלל תפלה זו:
Even if one is only travelling a parasang, but if it is less than a parasang, one does not have to say this prayer.
This last text brings up a question which is coming up: What is a journey? When does it begin and end? How long is the length of a journey? Is it door to door or country to country or is it when I go from feeling 'homed' to feeling 'homed'?
And when we pray, does our posture matter?
והיכי מצלי לה רב חסדא אמר מעומד רב ששת אמר אפילו מהלך
How does he recite this prayer? Rav Ḥisda said: Only while standing in one place. Rav Sheshet said: Even walking or sitting.
(ד) ואם אפשר יעמוד מלילך כשיאמרנה ואם היה רוכב א"צ לירד:
And if one can stand then they should, and if one is riding something then there is no need to come down
And now, the final formulation. Safe travels!
(א) יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ,
(ב) שֶׁתּוֹלִיכֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם וְתַצְעִידֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם וְתַדְרִיכֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם, וְתִסְמְכֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם,
(ג) וְתַגִּיעֵנוּ לִמְחוֹז חֶפְצֵנוּ לְחַיִּים וּלְשִׂמְחָה וּלְשָׁלוֹם.
(ד) אם דעתו לחזור מיד אומר וְתַחְזִירֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם
(ה) וְתַצִּילֵנוּ מִכַּף כָּל אוֹיֵב וְאוֹרֵב וְלִסְטִים וְחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת בַּדֶּרֶךְ,
(ו) וּמִכָּל מִינֵי פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת הַמִּתְרַגְּשׁוֹת לָבוֹא לָעוֹלָם,
(ז) וְתִתְּנֵנוּ לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים בְּעֵינֶיךָ וּבְעֵינֵי כָל רֹאֵינוּ,
(ח) כִּי אל שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּן אַתָּה.
(ט) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה לפי נוסח ספרד יי שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה:
May it be Your will, G‑d, our G‑d and the G‑d of our ancestors, that You should lead us in peace and direct our footsteps in peace, and guide us in peace, and support us in peace, and cause us to reach our destination in life, joy, and peace (If one intends to return immediately, one adds: and return us in peace). Save us from every enemy and ambush, from robbers and wild beasts on the trip, and from all kinds of punishments that rage and come to the world. May You confer blessing upon the work of our hands and grant me grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us, and bestow upon us abundant kindness and hearken to the voice of our prayer, for You hear the prayers of all. Blessed are You G‑d, who listens to prayer.