Many years ago, when I met my husband, he would begin any considerable drive in the car with the words, B'shem HaShem Na’aseh V’natzliach, which translates to “In the name of HaShem may we do and may we succeed.” So many years later whenever we embark on a journey we say these same words, sometimes under our breaths and sometimes aloud, but when we fly, we recite T’fillat Haderech, the travelers prayer.
This, like the Amida and other blessings, is one that I take seriously and reciting it gives me great comfort when traveling. The prayer, which originated during talmudic times, is short and to the point.
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, 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, Lord, Who hears prayer.
(From My Jewish Learning)
I believe that the version that we have used over the years added additional relevant p’sukim (lines) from Torah and that is where this post connects to Parshat Vayeitzei, as the final lines of the parsha are found in some versions of the prayer.
וְיַעֲקֹ֖ב הָלַ֣ךְ לְדַרְכּ֑וֹ וַיִּפְגְּעוּ־ב֖וֹ מַלְאֲכֵ֥י אֱלֹהִֽים׃
Jacob went on his way, and angels of God encountered him.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יַעֲקֹב֙ כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר רָאָ֔ם מַחֲנֵ֥ה אֱלֹהִ֖ים זֶ֑ה וַיִּקְרָ֛א שֵֽׁם־הַמָּק֥וֹם הַה֖וּא מַֽחֲנָֽיִם׃ {פ}
When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
The book of Breisheet is all about travels. Almost every character embarks upon a journey of some type. Yaakov's journey is particularly fraught. The first leg of his journey has him fleeing from his angry brother, the second leg has him meeting his brother again after years without knowing how their meeting will go and then leaving his angry father-in-law behind as he and his family returned home. Ya'akov expresses his fears when speaking to God. Also, in Parshat Vayeitzei, Ya'akov becomes aware that God is with him, even on perilous journeys and even when he is afraid.
So it is with Tefillat Haderech. Whether on a ship on the seas or in a plane that flies high above the clouds, we pray that God watches over our voyages. Whether we hold the prayer on a card in our wallets, or backlit on the tiny screens of our phones or on the pages of a siddur, it gives us comfort to read it as we depart. I hope that this very short addendum to Tefillat Haderech below adds a grace note to a powerful and beautiful prayer.
May you all know safe journeys and may we all know peace.
Leann
PS. I hope you will listen to the beautiful version of this prayer below, performed by Marni Loffman.
A Short Addendum to Tefillat Haderech
B'shem HaShem Na’aseh V’natzliach
May your voyage be safe, whether by air, by sea or land.
May your eyes be sharp and your ears open.
May your travel goals be worthy.
May your navigation be true.
May the winds be still and the sea be calm.
May the roads on which you travel be smooth.
May the sun guide you by day and the stars by night.
May you have food to eat and water to drink along the way.
May you find what you are searching for.
May there be peace at your destination and peace when you return
May you gain understanding at your destination and appreciation for home upon you return.
May the angels fly alongside you and the Shechina be your guide.
Text of Tefillat Haderech
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ,
שֶׁתּוֹלִיכֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם וְתַצְעִידֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם וְתַדְרִיכֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם, וְתִסְמְכֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם,
וְתַגִּיעֵנוּ לִמְחוֹז חֶפְצֵנוּ לְחַיִּים וּלְשִׂמְחָה וּלְשָׁלוֹם.
(אם דעתו לחזור מיד אומר) וְתַחְזִירֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם
וְתַצִּילֵנוּ מִכַּף כָּל אוֹיֵב וְאוֹרֵב וְלִסְטִים וְחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת בַּדֶּרֶךְ,
וּמִכָּל מִינֵי פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת הַמִּתְרַגְּשׁוֹת לָבוֹא לָעוֹלָם,
וְתִתְּנֵנוּ לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים בְּעֵינֶיךָ וּבְעֵינֵי כָל רֹאֵינוּ,
כִּי אל שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּן אַתָּה.
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה י-י שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה:
כִּי מַלְאָכָיו יְצַוֶּה לָךְ לִשְׁמָרְךָ בְּכָל דְרָכֶיךָ:
י-י יִשְׁמָר צֵאתְךָ וּבוֹאֶךָ מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם:
וְיַעֲקֹב הָלַךְ לְדַרְכּוֹ וַיִּפְגְּעוּ בוֹ מַלְאֲכֵי אֱלֹהִים.
וַיֹּאמֶר יַעֲקֹב כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאָם :
מַחֲנֵה אֱלֹהִים זֶה, וַיִּקְרָא שֵׁם הַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא מַחֲנָיִם.
יְבָרֶכְךָ י-י וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ:
יָאֵר י-י פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ:
Traveler’s Prayer in English Translation
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, 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, Lord, Who hears prayer.
Taken from : https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/tefilat-haderekh-the-travelers-prayer/ (From My Jewish Learning)j
For more on Tefillat Haderech. (The Traveler's Prayer)
שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה
Beautiful thoughts, Leann. They bring me comfort. Thank you.