Illustration Credit: Elad Lifshitz, Dov Abramson Studio
Halakhah הֲלָכָה
תְּפִילַת הַדֶּרֶךְ (Tefillat Ha-Derekh, the Traveler’s Prayer)
At the end of the parashah, as Yaakov continues his journey home, he encounters angels.
וְיַעֲקֹב הָלַךְ לְדַרְכּוֹ וַיִּפְגְּעוּ־בוֹ מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹקִים׃
וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאָם מַחֲנֵה אֱלֹקִים זֶה
וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם־הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא מַחֲנָיִם׃
Yaakov went on his way, and angels of God encountered him. When he saw them, Yaakov said, “This is God’s camp,” and he named that place Mahanayim.
Many people say these two pesukim as part of Tefillat Ha-Derekh, in the hope that God will send angels to protect them on their journeys. The source of this prayer is the Talmud:
וְאָמַר רַבִּי יַעֲקֹב אָמַר רַב חִסְדָּא:
כָּל הַיּוֹצֵא לַדֶּרֶךְ צָרִיךְ לְהִתְפַּלֵּל תְּפִלַּת הַדֶּרֶךְ.
Rabbi Yaakov said [that] Rav Hisda said: Anyone who sets out on a journey must pray Tefillat Ha-Derekh.
For what kinds of trips does one say Tefillat Ha-Derekh?
The Shulhan Arukh (Orah Hayyim 110:7) rules that Tefillat Ha-Derekh is only said when traveling away from one’s town farther than a פַּרְסָה (parsah, the equivalent of a few miles). This was a significant journey when the Shulhan Arukh was written 500 years ago!
Some people do not say Tefillat Ha-Derekh if there are people living all along the path of their journey.
When does one say Tefillat Ha-Derekh?
The Mishnah Berurah (Orah Hayyim 110:29) says that Tefillat Ha-Derekh is recited right after leaving town, when there are no more homes nearby. It’s become common to recite Tefillat Ha-Derekh on airplanes, during take-off.
Peninei Halakhah (Orah Hayyim 110:7) notes that driving can be dangerous even inside the city, so we are allowed to say Tefillat Ha-Derekh on a car ride even when we don’t leave the city.
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