In the Torah portion of Vayechi, we read about how the tribes traveled from Egypt to the land of Canaan to bury our patriarch Yaakov and then returned to Egypt.
This article will discuss the prayer said when traveling, known as Tefillat HaDerech, as well as some of the laws of the day of travel.
Consult your Creator
The Talmud says that Elijah, the prophet, told Rabbi Yehudah, “When you go on a journey, consult with your Creator and then leave.” The Talmud explains that this refers to saying the prayer for a traveler, which is known as Tefillat HaDerech.
The commentaries question as to why reciting this prayer is considered like “consulting with your Creator (G-d)” since the purpose of consulting usually is to receive an answer whereas in the case of prayer there’s no (immediate) response from the Almighty.
Here are some of the explanations given:
Fluent Prayers
The Shela HaKadosh (Rabbi Isaiah HaLevi Horowitz of 16th- and 17th-century Prague and Israel) explains that one can know if his prayers are accepted depending on whether he prays fluently or stumbles over his words. This is based on the Talmud that says that Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa would pray for sick people and would predict who would live and who would not. When asked how he knew this information, he explained that if his prayers flowed easily from his mouth, he knew that they were accepted and that the patient would live, whereas if he stumbled over his words he knew that his prayers were not accepted and that the patient would pass away.
As such, when the Talmud says that one should consult with one’s Creator and then leave, it means one should pray the traveler’s prayer and then decide, based on how that prayer goes, if one should embark on the journey or not.
Rabbi Yitzchok Zev Yadler (of 19th-century Jerusalem) explained that this is why the blessing of the Traveler’s Prayer does not begin with the words “Baruch Atah Hashem” as do most blessings. The sages enacted it this way so that if a person sees that the prayer isn’t flowing, he can change his mind, decide not to go, and stop saying the prayer before saying the blessing at the end of it. If the blessing were to begin with the words “Baruch Atah Hashem,” changing his mind after that point would mean that the blessing was said in vain.
Rabbi Yechezkel Landau (of 18th-century Prague) says that this sign only works for tzadikim (righteous people) such as Rabbi Chaninah ben Dosa and Rabbi Yehudah but not for a common man. As such, in practice, one need not turn back from one’s journey if he stumbles over the words of the traveler’s prayer.
Missing the Plane
Rabbi Dovid ben Levi (of 13th-century Narbonne) cites the Talmud that sometimes a person gets injured and misses his trip and later finds out that he would have been robbed or killed had he gone on that trip. It thus emerges that his missing the trip was for the best. As such, he explains that we recite the traveler’s prayer and hope that if it’s best for us not to go on the trip, G-d will answer us by preventing us from going.
Coronate your Creator
Rabbi Aryeh Leibish Halberstam (the Sanz-Zmirgrod Rebbe of Poland and Israel) writes that the wording of the Talmud can be translated as, “When you go on a trip, coronate your Creator and then go.” This means that before embarking on a trip or on any project, one should see to it that he is doing so for the sake of Heaven and make sure that all of his plans are aligned with the Divine will.
What to Do and Not to Do Before Traveling
Here are several laws that are relevant before traveling:
Taking Leave of the Scholars
It’s customary to take leave of the spiritual leaders of a city before going on a big trip. This is similar to the practice in ancient times when the king would consult with the Sanhedrin (highest court in the land) before going to war. The purpose of this was so that the Sanhedrin would pray that the battle be successful. Similarly, the leaders should pray for the traveler and bless him with success.
Giving Charity Before Traveling
It's customary to give tzedaka (charity) before traveling. This is based on the verse “Let righteousness (tzedek) go before you, and (then) set your feet on the road.”
Pray, then Travel
It’s forbidden to go on a trip before praying the morning prayers (Shacharit). Some say that the same applies to the Mincha (afternoon prayer) and Maariv (evening prayers). This only applies once the time of prayer has arrived. The above verse says, “Justice goes before Him as He sets out on His way.” The rashei teivot (acronym) of the first three words of the verse is yitzal, which means “pray” in Aramaic. The verse can therefore be understood to be saying, “First pray and only then set out on your way.” This is true even if he will have time to pray at his destination before the final time for morning prayers.
The reason for this law is that traveling is considered one’s personal affairs and it’s disrespectful to take care of one’s affairs before praying. In addition, it’s difficult to concentrate on praying during (or soon after) traveling and sometimes one may be unable to pray at all during the journey.
One who has a flight to catch and has no time to pray beforehand may depart before praying and then pray on the way. Nevertheless, one should say the morning blessings before departing.
Blessed with Success
That being said, if one first prays and then goes on his journey, G-d will make his affairs successful. This is alluded to in the abovementioned verse. “If a person goes in a righteous path [by praying, the Almighty will] place his feet on a (successful) path.”
May G-d Set Us on a Righteous Path!
Chazak, Chazak, Venit’chazek!
Wishing you Shabbat Shalom UMevorach!
Copyright 2025 by Rabbi Aryeh Citron
