Learn and talk about Tefilat HaDerech, Hebrew words and phrases, Jewish prayer and ritual texts

"Traveller's Prayer" redirects here, for the 1998 album by John Renbourn, see Traveller's Prayer (album)

Tefilat HaDerech (תפילת הדרך) or the Traveler's Prayer or Wayfarer's Prayer in English, is a prayer for a safe journey recited by Jews, when they travel, by air, sea, and even on long car trips.^[1] It is recited at the onset of every journey, and preferably done standing but this is not necessary.^[2] It is often inscribed onto hamsas which sometimes contain the Sh'ma or Birkat HaBayit prayer instead.

1 Hebrew text
2 Transliteration
3 English translation
4 Laws
5 Media
6 References

Hebrew text [edit]

יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְפָנֶיךָ ה' אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶתּוֹלִיכֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם וְתַצְעִידֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם. וְתִסְמְכֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם. וְתַדְרִיכֵנוּ לְשָלוֹם. וְתַגִיעֵנוּ לִמְחוֹז חֶפְצֵנוּ לְחַיִּים וּלְשִֹמְחָה וּלְשָלוֹם וְתַצִּילֵנוּ מִכַּף כָּל אוֹיֵב וְאוֹרֵב וְלִסְטִים וְחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת בַדֶּרֶךְ וּמִכָּל מִינֵי פּוּרְעָנִיּוֹת הַמִתְרַגְּשוֹת לָבוֹא לָעוֹלָם וְתִשְלַח בְּרָכָה בְּכָל מַעֲשֵֹה יָדֵינוּ, וְתִתְּנֵנוּ לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים בְעֵינֶיךָ וּבְעֵינֵי כָל רוֹאֵינוּ וְתִשְמַע קוֹל תַּחֲנוּנֵינוּ. כִּי אֵ-ל שוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּן אָתָּה: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', שוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה.

Transliteration [edit]

Y'hi ratzon milfanekha A-donai E-loheinu ve-lohei avoteinu she-tolikhenu l'shalom v'tatz'idenu l'shalom v'tadrikhenu l'shalom, v'tagi'enu limhoz heftzenu l'hayim ul-simha ul-shalom. V'tatzilenu mi-kaf kol oyev v'orev v'listim v'hayot ra'ot ba-derekh, u-mi-kol minei pur'aniyot ha-mitrag'shot la-vo la-olam. V'tishlah b'rakha b'khol ma'a'se yadeinu v'tit'nenu l'hen ul-hesed ul-rahamim b'einekha uv-einei khol ro'einu. V'tishma kol tahanuneinu ki E-l sho'me'a t'fila v'tahanun ata. Barukh ata A-donai sho'me'a t'fila.

English translation [edit]

May it be Your will, o Lord, our God and the God of our ancestors, that You lead us toward peace, guide our footsteps toward peace, and make us reach our desired destination for life, gladness, and peace. May You rescue us from the hand of every foe, ambush along the way, and from all manner of punishments that assemble to come to earth. May You send blessing in our handiwork, and grant us grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us. May You hear the sound of our humble request because You are God Who hears prayer requests. Blessed are You, our Lord, Who hears prayer.

Laws [edit]

From the Kitzur Shulchan Aruch:

Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 68:1^[3]

Tefilat HaDerech - the traveler's prayer - cannot be said before one has left the city limits; defined as 70 and ⅔ Amot (~350 meters / ~0.2 miles) after the last house.

Preferably it should be said one "Miel" (~1 km / ~0.6 miles) from the city limit.

When overnighting on a multi-day trip, one says Tefilat HaDerech before leaving for the day.

Media [edit]

YouTube Video - IDF Soldiers recite prayer for a safe journey (Tefilat HaDerech) in their tank.

References [edit]

^ Ask Moses by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg, What is Tefilat Haderech?.
^ Ask Moses by Rabbi Naftali Silberberg, When and How is the Tefilat Haderech Recited?
^ Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 68:1 as quoted by Halocho a Day

Jewish prayer

List of Jewish prayers and blessings

Shacharit

Preparation	Birkot hashachar Akeida Offerings

Pesukei dezimra	Mizmor Shir (Psalm 30) Barukh she'amar Songs of thanksgiving (Hodu Psalm 100) Yehi kevod Hallel (Ashrei Psalms 146 147 148 149 150) Baruch Adonai L'Olam (Shacharit) Vayivarech David Atah Hu Adonai L'Vadecha Az Yashir Yishtabach

Core prayers	Barechu Yotzer ohr Ahava rabbah Shema Emet Vayatziv Amidah Kedushah

Conclusion	Tachanun Torah reading^1, 2, 3 Ashrei Psalm 20 Uva letzion Aleinu Shir shel yom Kaddish Ein Keloheinu⁴

Mincha

Maariv

Shabbat / Holiday additions

Seasonal additions

Other prayers

^{1 On Shabbat.}
^{2 On holidays.}
^{3 On Mondays and Thursdays.}
^{4 Only on Shabbat and holidays, according to Nusach Ashkenaz in the diaspora.}
^{5 On fast days.}
^{6 Daily in Israel.}

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Tefilat HaDerech

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