Though it is a prayer for travel, this prayer includes an appeal that we all experience — i.e., danger from water (in the sea or in a river), and from mountains (as in of avalanches), and from robbers on land, etc. Consequently, I have no hesitation about including it among the minor prayers — and thus making it applicable to travelers in general — as we find in the “She’elot u-Teshuvot” of Moses Sofer (i.e., S. 7).
The prayer is meant to be recited when you are about to embark on your journey, and it asks that all your travels go smoothly and safely. The Hebrew word for travel is “mivtah” which means “to move from one place to another.” The blessing also says that God will protect all travelers from harm during their travels, both physical and emotional. Talked about; Jewish prayers for safety, Jewish prayer for protection.
Jewish prayer for travel
The Jewish prayer for travel can be recited any time you leave home, whether it’s just across town or across the country. If you’re feeling uneasy about leaving home, this prayer will help calm your nerves as well as uplift your spirit!
If you’re heading out on a trip, there are some prayers you can use to help make the experience more meaningful. Here are some prayers that can be used when traveling:
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this time. May it be Your will that we reach our destination safely.
May it be Your will that we reach our destination safely and in good health.
May it be Your will that we reach our destination safely and in good health, with pleasantness and joy.
May it be Your will that we reach our destination safely and in good health, with pleasantness and joy—and in peace! May it be Your will that we reach our destination safely and in good health—and in peace!
Jewish prayers for safety
Jewish prayers for safety are used to protect the person praying from harm.
The first time I got into a car with my grandfather, I was in the front seat and he was sitting in the back. He’d just started driving again after an accident, so he was being extra cautious and double-checking everything before he went anywhere.
As we were driving down the street together, he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small piece of paper that was folded up into fours. He handed it to me and said, “Guard this with your life.”
I opened it up to see that it was an old prayer written on thin paper in Hebrew letters. It wasn’t long. I read it over twice before handing it back to him.
“What does this say?” I asked him. He replied: “It’s a prayer for safety.”
Jewish prayer for protection
The following is a list of traditional Jewish prayers for protection:
Pidyon Shvuyim. This prayer is recited during the three weeks before Tisha B’Av to mourn the destruction of the First and Second Temples and remember the sacrificial service that was performed there. The words “Pidyon Shvuyim” mean “Redemption of Captives.” According to tradition, this prayer has special power to help protect us from harm and danger.
Tehillim (Psalms) 91:2-3, 7-10: “I will say of Hashem, ‘He is my refuge and fortress; my God in Him I will trust.’ Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence.” This passage is recited on Friday nights before bedtime. It has been suggested that reciting it regularly may protect one from accidents caused by falling asleep while driving or sleeping with an open window near water.
The following is a list of the most common Jewish prayers. They can be used to request or thank G‑d for health, success and prosperity, or for guidance and protection.
The prayers below are taken from various prayer books including The Daily Prayers by Rabbi Benjamin Blech and The Book of Jewish Prayers: A Guide to Prayerbook Study by Aryeh Kaplan.
The first section contains prayers that can be said any time during the day, while the second section contains prayers that are said only on certain days of the week or month.
Each prayer below includes its Hebrew name (Hebrew transliteration), transliteration into English letters, translation into English, and further information about when it may be recited (if applicable).
Tefilat HaDerech (Hebrew: 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.
Text
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ ה’ אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ וֵא-לֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתּוֹלִיכֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם וְתַצְעִידֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם. וְתִסְמְכֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם. וְתַדְרִיכֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם. וְתַגִּיעֵנוּ לִמְחוֹז חֶפְצֵנוּ לְחַיִּים וּלְשִֹמְחָה וּלְשָׁלוֹם וְתַצִּילֵנוּ מִכַּף כָּל אוֹיֵב וְאוֹרֵב וְלִסְטִים וְחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת בַּדֶּרֶךְ וּמִכָּל מִינֵי פֻּרְעָנִיּוֹת הַמִּתְרַגְּשׁוֹת לָבוֹא לָעוֹלָם וְתִשְׁלַח בְּרָכָה בְּכָל מַעֲשֵֹה יָדֵינוּ, וְתִתְּנֵנוּ לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים בְעֵינֶיךָ וּבְעֵינֵי כָל רוֹאֵינוּ וְתִשְׁמַע קוֹל תַּחֲנוּנֵינוּ. כִּי אֵ-ל שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּן אָתָּה: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’, שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה.
Y’hi ratzon milfanekha A-donai E-loheinu ve-lohei avoteinu she-tolikhenu l’shalom v’tatz’idenu l’shalom v’tismekhu 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.
“May it be Your will, Lord, our God and the God of our ancestors, that You lead us toward peace, guide our footsteps toward peace, that we are supported in peace, and make us reach our desired destination for life, gladness, and peace. May You rescue us from the hand of every foe and ambush, from robbers and wild beasts on the trip, 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, Lord, Who hears prayer.”
Origins
A variant of the prayer can be found in the Babylonian Talmud (Berachot 29b-30a). The Bavli version is written for the protection of a single individual, but the sage Abaye counseled merging one’s individual need with that of the community. The modern text is accordingly written in the plural.[3]
כל היוצא לדרך צריך להתפלל תפלת הדרך. מאי תפלת הדרך? יהי רצון מלפניך ד’ אלקי שתוליכני לשלום ותצעידני לשלום ותסמכני
לשלום, ותצילני מכף כל אויב ואורב בדרך, ותשלח ברכה במעשי ידי, ותתנני לחן לחסד ולרחמים בעיניך ובעיני כל רואי, ברוך אתה ד’שומע תפלה. אמר אביי: לעולם לישתף אינש נפשיה בהדי צבורא.
“One who travels must recite tefilat haderech. What is tefilat haderech? “May it be Your will, my Gd, that You lead me towards peace, direct my steps toward peace, support me toward peace, and rescue me from the hand of any enemy or ambush on the way, and send blessing upon my handiwork, and give me favour, generosity and mercy in Your eyes and the eyes of all who see me. You are blessed, Gd, who listens to prayer.” Abaye said: One should always merge himself with the community.”
Laws
From Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 68:1[4]
Tefilat HaDerech – the traveler’s prayer – cannot be said before one has left the city limits; defined as 70 and ⅔ Amot (~35 meters / ~0.02 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.