Summer 2021<\/p>\n\n\n\n
During the past year and a half, STAR-K mashgichim<\/em> continued to conduct inspections in the United States and abroad in a manner deemed safe for them and factory personnel. STAR-K is very thankful for their tremendous mesiras nefesh<\/em> to ensure that our certified products maintained the highest level of kashrus, even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Still, many consumers who frequently travel stayed home. With great siyata d\u2019Shmaya,<\/em> an effective vaccine was developed that has allowed us to resume our busy travel schedules and to once again recite Tefilas Haderech<\/em> on a regular basis. Let us examine the halachos<\/em> of this beautiful tefilla.[1]<\/strong><\/a> <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Tefilla\n<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Tefilas Haderech<\/em> is based on the Gemara in Brachos<\/em> (29b-30a), with some minor variations, depending upon one\u2019s nusach<\/em>. The Gemara<\/em> says it is recited in loshon rabim<\/em> (plural; e.g., shetolicheinu<\/strong>,<\/em> etc.).[2]<\/a> When returning the same the day, the words v\u2019sachzireinu<\/strong> l\u2019shalom<\/em> are added after l\u2019chaim, ul\u2019simcha<\/em>, ul\u2019shalom<\/em>.[3]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The bracha<\/em> is recited only once a day, even when traveling a long distance.[4]<\/a> \u201cDay\u201d has the same guidelines as Birkas Hatorah<\/em>: it begins after one wakes up in the morning and concludes when one goes to sleep. For instance, if someone drove 1300 miles from New York to Miami, leaving at 6:00 a.m. on Monday and arriving in Miami 20 hours later at 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday, he would recite Tefilas Haderech<\/em> only once (i.e., upon leaving New York). The same is true if one left New York on Monday at 3:00 a.m.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If one travels over the\ncourse of a few days, Tefilas Haderech<\/em> is recited every day that one\ntravels. For example, assume someone drove from New York to San Diego and booked\na hotel room in two cities along the way, with the following itinerary: <\/p>\n\n\n\n In this case, Tefilas\nHaderech<\/em> was recited only on Sunday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, since those were\nthe travel days. It was not recited on Monday, as there was no travel outside\nthe city, nor on the days after reaching the destination in San Diego (i.e., Thursday\nand onward until he departs from there).[5]<\/a>\nSee below for when one should recite the tefilla on a multi-day journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What\nDistance Must be Traveled?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If one\ntravels the distance of a parsa <\/em>(2.8 miles) out of town, one should\nrecite Tefilas Haderech.<\/em> However, \u201ctown\u201d does not mean the \u201ccity limits.\u201d\nRather, to be considered a long enough trip, the traveler must meet both of the\nfollowing two conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides\nlong-distance trips (e.g., New York \u2013 Detroit), this would include shorter \u201cout\nof town\u201d trips, for example Lakewood \u2013 Monsey or Lakewood \u2013 New York, as these trips\nmeet both of the above \u201ctrip\u201d conditions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The following are three examples when Tefilas Haderech<\/em> is not<\/em> recited: <\/p>\n\n\n\n At What Point\nin the Journey Is Tefilas Haderech<\/em> Recited? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Once a trip\nis deemed long enough to require the recitation of Tefilas Haderech,<\/em> one\nmust determine the ideal place to recite it. The Mishnah Brurah<\/em> states[7]<\/a> that it should ideally be recited within the\nfirst parsa<\/em> (2.8 miles) after leaving the ibura shel ir<\/em> \u2013 that is\nto say, after traveling slightly more than 70 amos<\/em> (42 yards) past the\nlast house of the built-up area of the metropolitan region. The latest time to\nsay Tefilas Haderech<\/em> is before reaching within a parsa<\/em> (2.8\nmiles) of the metropolitan area of one\u2019s destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Typically, Tefilas Haderech <\/em>is recited during a long stretch of highway with no houses on either side, or when crossing a bridge over a wide river (a stretch of road that obviously has no houses). <\/p>\n\n\n\n The following are examples of the ideal locations for the recitation of Tefilas Haderech <\/em>when traveling from Baltimore out of town on the various Interstate highways:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If someone is traveling for a few days, Tefilas Haderech<\/em> may be said in the hotel when preparing to leave, beginning with the second day of travel.[9]<\/a> For example, on a trip from New York to Atlanta, Tefilas Haderech<\/em> would be recited on the first day on the Outerbridge Crossing, or on the Goethals Bridge from Staten Island to New Jersey. If the person stayed in Baltimore overnight, Tefilas Haderech<\/em> could be said either in the hotel when preparing to leave or when driving through Baltimore City as he begins the second leg of his trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If traveling\nby air, the accepted minhag<\/em> is as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reciting Tefilas\nHaderech<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Ideally one\nshould recite Tefilas Haderech<\/em> while standing up and stationary.\nHowever, since it is generally not safe to pull over to the shoulder (and\ncertainly not to get out of the car on the shoulder of the road, unless it is\nan emergency), the accepted minhag <\/em>is to recite Tefilas Haderech<\/em>\nwhile driving. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Because Tefilas\nHaderech<\/em> does not begin with \u2018Baruch Ata Hashem\u2019<\/em>, there is a hiddur<\/em>\n(stringency) to first recite a \u201clong\u201d bracha<\/em> immediately prior to Tefilas\nHaderech<\/em>. Examples of long brachos<\/em> include \u2018Mei\u2019ein Shalosh\u2019 <\/em>and\n\u2018Asher Yatzar\u2019<\/em>.[10]<\/a>\nFor instance, if someone ate dates and grapes at the beginning of the trip, at\nthe time one is obligated to say Tefilas Haderech,<\/em> one would first\nrecite the bracha<\/em> of \u2019Al Ha\u2019eitz<\/em>\u2018, thereby creating a bracha hasmucha\nl\u2019chaverta<\/em>, and then follow immediately[11]<\/a>\nwith Yehi Ratzon<\/em> of Tefilas Haderech<\/em>. But this is not mandatory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When being motzi\n<\/em>others in Tefilas Haderech<\/em>,[12]<\/a>\none must meet all the conditions of \u201cshomei\u2019a k\u2019ona<\/em>\u201d.[13]<\/a>\n Furthermore, when traveling in a group\n(e.g., on a bus), if one person recites Tefilas Haderech<\/em> to be motzi<\/em>\nothers, it may not be recited over a microphone. If those in the back of the bus cannot hear\nthe person in the front reciting Tefilas Haderech<\/em>, an additional person\nshould be appointed to recite it from the middle of the bus for those in the\nback to properly hear it and be yotzei<\/em>. \nIf one is on a bus and hears someone reciting Tefilas Haderech<\/em>\nover a microphone, he should repeat it for himself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It is no coincidence that when discussing Tefilas Haderech<\/em>, the Gemara reminds us to recite it b\u2019loshon rabim<\/em> (something that applies to all tefilos<\/em>). The Gemara is reminding us that even when alone on a trip in the most isolated places, far away from our families and kehilos<\/em>,we are indeed part of the heilige tzibur<\/em> known as Klal Yisroel<\/em>. Internalizing this reminder gives us the siyata d\u2019Shmaya<\/em> to bez\u201dH<\/em> stay safe \u2013 physically and spiritually – wherever we travel. [1]<\/a> These\nhalachos<\/em> are based on the psak <\/em>of HaRav Moshe Heinemann, shlit\u201da,<\/em>\nRabbinic Administrator of STAR-K. For a full discussion of this topic, see Shulchan\nAruch Orach Chaim (O.C.) <\/em>and Mishna Brurah, siman<\/em> 110. Two excellent contemporary seforim<\/em> are\nSefer Darchei Zmaneinu<\/em> by Rabbi Moshe Finkel and Kuntres Tefilas\nHaderech<\/em> by Rabbi Aron Stauber.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [2]<\/a>\nNote, however,\nthat the word v\u2019sitneini<\/em> is said by many in loshon yachid<\/em>\n(singular, ending with \u201cni\u201d<\/em> instead of \u201cnu\u201d<\/em>). See Mishnah Brurah<\/em> 110:19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [3]<\/a> There is a machlokes Rishonim<\/em> (differing opinions amongst the early commentaries) as to whether \u201cv\u2019sachzireinu l\u2019shalom\u201d<\/em> (we should return peacefully) is always part of Tefilas Haderech<\/em>. The Shulchan Aruch<\/em> Harav <\/em>in his Siddur makes \u201ca compromise\u201d by adding this only if \u201cone\u2019s intention is to return immediately\u201d. The term \u201cimmediately\u201d is understood to mean the same day. Many have adapted the minhag<\/em> of this \u201cp\u2019shara<\/em>\u201d (compromise).<\/em> If one forgot to add these words on the day he was traveling round trip, Tefilas Haderech<\/em> should not be repeated later on the way home as, b\u2019dieved<\/em>, the regular Tefilas Haderech<\/em> without v\u2019sachzireinu <\/em>covers the return trip if he traveled the same day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [4]<\/a> The\nexception to this is if one stopped with an intention to stay overnight, and\nthen the person changed his mind. For example, someone drove from New York to\nCleveland and checked into a hotel intending to leave for Chicago the next\nmorning. After hearing the weather report of a blizzard the next day, the\nperson changed his mind and decided to leave immediately for Chicago. Tefilas\nHaderech<\/em> would be recited for a second time that day. See Shulchan Aruch O.C.<\/em> 110:5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [5]<\/a> If after\ndeparting one continued traveling all night and then the next day, there is aquestion as to whether Tefilas Haderech<\/em> is recited on the second day\nof the trip. For example, if one flew on Tuesday from Newark to London and then\non Wednesday morning boarded a plane from London to Tel Aviv, should he say Tefilas\nHaderech<\/em> again on Wednesday morning? Another example is three people drove\n1800 miles from Lakewood to Denver, left at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, drove all\nnight and arrived at 1:00 p.m. the next day. Should they say Tefilas\nHaderech<\/em> again on Wednesday morning? \nIn these cases, Rav Heinemann is of the opinion that Tefilas Haderech<\/em>\nis not recited on the second day. However, in order to satisfy all opinions, one\nshould ideally insert Tefilas Haderech<\/em> into the bracha<\/em> of Shma\nKoleinu<\/em> during Shacharis Shemona Esrei<\/em> on Wednesday morning.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n [6]<\/a> Warehouses, offices, and businesses would be considered part of the parsa <\/em>[2.8 miles] of open area as no one lives at these locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [7]<\/a> Siman<\/em>\n110 seif katan <\/em>29. The Shulchan Aruch<\/em> (ibid. se\u2019if <\/em>7) maintains\nthat one should recite it when one is \u201chichzik baderech<\/em>\u201d, and the Rema\n<\/em>(ibid.) explains this to mean within the first parsa(2.8 miles) of\nthe trip. The Mishnah Berurah<\/em> then states this does not mean within the\nfirst parsa of one\u2019s home, but rather after leaving town. B\u2019dieved, <\/em>if\none said it before leaving the city he is yotzei.<\/em> See Mishnah Berurah<\/em> 110:29.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [8]<\/a> In this section, we give examples of travel to some popular destinations. Indeed, if one travels towards Pittsburgh to Breezewood, for example, one would still recite Tefilas Haderech<\/em>. If you are not sure if your trip is long enough to require Tefilas Haderech<\/em>, consult your rav<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [9]<\/a> See Mishnah\nBerurah<\/em> 110:29.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [10]<\/a> It\nis important not to \u201cdelay\u201d the recitation of Asher Yatzar<\/em>. If one used\nthe restroom before departing, one should not \u201csave\u201d the Asher Yatzar<\/em>\nfor later in order to precede Tefilas Haderech<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [11]<\/a> In\nthis case, if being motzi<\/em> others, do not say \u201cbirshus<\/em>\u201d between\nthe bracha<\/em> and Tefilas Haderech.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n [12]<\/a> There\nis a discussion as to whether a minyan<\/em> is required to be motzi<\/em> others\nin Tefilas Haderech.<\/em> The custom is to be lenient and allow one person to\nbe motzi<\/em> another even with no minyan<\/em> present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [13]<\/a> For\nexample, the person reciting Tefilas Haderech<\/em> must have daas <\/em>(in\nmind) to be motzi<\/em> others (his recitation allows others listening to\nfulfill their obligation) and those listening must have daas<\/em> to be yotzei<\/em>\n(have their obligation fulfilled).<\/em> The person reciting must be on the\nsame level of chiyuv<\/em> (obligation) as the listener. Therefore, a child\ncannot be motzi<\/em> a gadol<\/em> (adult) in Tefilas Haderech<\/em>. There\nare several other conditions (which also apply to Kiddush<\/em> and other tefilos<\/em>)\nthat are beyond the scope of this discussion.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Summer 2021<\/p>\n During the past year and a half, STAR-K mashgichim continued to conduct inspections in the United States and abroad in a manner deemed safe for them and factory personnel. STAR-K is very thankful for their tremendous mesiras nefesh to ensure that our certified products maintained the highest level of kashrus, even in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. Still, many consumers who frequently travel stayed home. With great siyata d\u2019Shmaya, an effective vaccine was developed that has allowed us to resume our busy travel schedules and to once again recite Tefilas Haderech on a regular basis. Let us examine the halachos of this beautiful tefilla.[1]<\/strong><\/a> <\/p>\n The Tefilla\n
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