Weekly Halacha Yomit: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch

Chapter 68 of the Kitzur deals with the laws of travelling – about half of which discusses the recitation of Tefillat HaDerech, the prayer said when travelling. The original prayer proposed by the Gemara in Berachot 29b has been modified to the version that we know today. The main difference is that the Gemara's version is solely in the singular, while the version we use today is almost entirely in the plural:

May it be Your will, Hashem, 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, Hashem, Who hears prayer.

Rabbi Jack (Yaakov) Bieler comments on this distinction:

The primary difference between the prayer appearing in contemporary Siddurim as compared to the original Talmudic version of Tefillat HaDerech is the change from the singular to the plural, i.e., from “me/my” to “us/our”. Aside from such a change bringing Tefillat HaDerech into line with other central prayers in our liturgy, e.g., the blessings preceding and following Shema, the Amida, Tachanun, etc., the change might also have been prompted by the assumption that a traveler should not only see him/herself as in need of Divine Protection, but that all those in similar situations must also be prayed for. A means of developing empathy for others in a particular situation is to be in that very situation yourself. [9/11, 7/7, 121, R. Yaakov Bieler]

It seems therefore that when we recite Tefillat HaDerech, we are not, as one would rightly assume, praying for our safe journey and return. Rather we are connecting ourselves as a traveller with all other travellers across the world, whether we know them or not. This is an incredible concept which shows the idea of kol Yisrael areivim zeh lazeh – that all of Am Yisrael are bound together. (NB: It seems to me that the wording of Tefillat HaDerech does not exclude praying for the welfare of non-Jewish travellers, even though we beseech "our" Hashem and speak about "us".) You can watch here a video of an IDF soldier reciting the prayer in a tank in the Second Lebanon War.

Next time you say Tefillat HaDerech, have in mind not just your own journey, but that all journeys taking place should be safe.

If you have any comments or feedback, please email daniel@worldmizrachi.org .

• Kitzur Shulchan Aruch with English linear translation: http://www.geocities.com/yona_n.geo/index.html
• Hebrew Kitzur Shulchan Aruch with nekudot: http://www.kitzur.net
• Hebrew Kitzur Shulchan Aruch without nekudot: http://www.shofar.net/Content/Kitzur_Shulchan.htm?id=5417
• Kitzur Shulchan Aruch project, calendars and order books: http://www.kitzuryomi.org/
• Kitzur Shulchan Aruch with Misgeret HaShulchan: http://www.hebrewbooks.org/9214
• Kitzur Shulchan Aruch with She'arim Ha'Metzuyanim B'Halachah:
  • Part 1 - http://www.hebrewbooks.org/14621
  • Part 2 - http://www.hebrewbooks.org/14622
  • Part 3 - http://www.hebrewbooks.org/14619
  • Part 4 - http://www.hebrewbooks.org/14620
• Selected chapters grouped by theme: http://www.torah.org/learning/halacha/
• New Artscroll Kitzur Shulchan Aruch. Sample available at: http://www.artscroll.com/Books/ksa1.html