Tefilat Haderech—the Traveler’s Prayer

For the journey of Elul, I’m pleased to share a poetic translation of this prayer followed by a teaching, by Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg. Happy Labor Day Weekend!

3 Elul, Friday, August 29

Traveler’s Prayer

A prayer for the journey

We could say it every day

When we first leave the soft warmth of our beds

And don’t know for sure if we’ll return at night.

When we get in the trains, planes and automobiles

And put our lives in the hands of many strangers

Or when we leave our homes for a day, a week, a month or more –

Will we return to a peaceful home? Untouched by fire, flood or crime?

How will our travels change us?

What gives us the courage to go through the door?

A prayer for the journey

For the journey we take in this fragile vessel of flesh.

A finite number of years and we will reach

The unknown where it all began.

Every life, every day, every hour is a journey.

In the travel is the discovery,

The wisdom, the joy.

Every life, every day, every hour is a journey.

In the travel is the reward,

The peace, the blessing.

In writing this interpretation of the Tefilat HaDerech, the Traveler’s Prayer, (originally found in the Talmud Berakhot 29b and appearing in siddurim by the 16th century) I realized how universal the images of traveler, path, and journey are. Every moment, we face the un-known because each moment is truly new. It never existed before. We might be beset by fears, anticipating potential hardships. We might close off to the new experience because it is not familiar and hence beyond our grasp or control. Or, we might remind ourselves to approach whatever comes with presence, trust, and a spirit of discovery. We can choose to let curiosity and wonder guide our steps. This prayer invites us to set out on a journey, whatever the journey is, with an open heart and an open mind.

Published in the September 2014 issue of Sh’ma: