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The Traveler’s Prayer: What You Say Along the Way

In Judaism, it is the journey, not the destination, that matters.

By Rabbi Shefa Gold

This prayer can be chanted at the onset of a journey by foot, car, bus, boat, train or plane. It can take us to a place of calm and spacious awareness. It reminds us that God is with us and to pay attention to the gifts that might otherwise be missed along the way.

Click here for the full text of the prayer

The foundational story of Judaism — which is remembered, celebrated and relived every single day — is the story of a journey. In the beginning, we journey into existence. Then we journey with Abraham into the unknown and then into the entanglements of family dramas. We journey from there down into Egypt and into the suffering and constriction of slavery (the Hebrew word for Egypt is Mitzrayim, literally “the narrow place.”). Our journey from slavery to freedom, from Egypt to the Promised Land, represents the journey of awakening.

Major Jewish holidays celebrate important points on that journey. On Passover, we commemorate the leave-taking. On Shavuot, we celebrate the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai along the way. Sukkot reminds us of both our fragility and abundance as we journey forth.

In fact, everything that is important to our spiritual development as a people happens along the way.

There is a yearly cycle of readings from Torah that all Jews follow, which leads us from the very beginning of creation to the moment when we are about to arrive in the Promised Land. And then we never really get there. After all that anticipation, all that promise, we start over again. We’re right back at the beginning.

If the destination was the point of it all, then this might become very frustrating. But it is the journey that matters.

We read this story again and again — discussing, analyzing, and extrapolating about it endlessly — because it is meant to be a mirror of our own soul’s journey. By reflecting on our journey, we are meant to wake up to both the wonder and magnitude of each and every step, and the amazing miracle of the whole journey in all its glory, absurdity and sweetness.

There is a way that these two awakenings—to the miracle of the journey and to this step right here beneath our foot — are symbiotic. The moment when we can step back and marvel at the twists and turns, the synchronicities and blessings that have brought us to the here and now — that is the moment of realization that every step matters. Walking with that kind of awareness, deliberately opening to the grace of each step, enables a vision of the wide perspective of our whole amazing life’s journey.

Each of us walks the path of a valiant hero on a remarkable journey, filled with the human adventures of birth, illness, romance, divorce, loss, triumph, heartbreak, healing and aging into wisdom. And yet we often just accept it all as boringly normal and tedious.

Traveling is a reminder that all of life is an extraordinary adventure. Traveling awakens curiosity and wonder and brings those qualities to every step of life. Being awake in this way is a paradox. With each step, we arrive in the Promised Land and all there is to do is celebrate. Yet we are also always forever on our way there, stumbling, dancing, opening to all it means to be human, remembering that it is the journey that matters.

Chanting the words of the Traveler’s Prayer blesses this journey, connecting to Holy One who sends us and opening to the possibility that wherever we think we’re going, the destination is in fact the fullness of life, joy, wholeness and peace.

Listen to Rabbi Shefa Gold’s musical version of the Traveler’s Prayer:

Rabbi Shefa Gold is a Leader in Aleph: Alliance for Jewish Renewal and director of CDEEP Center for Devotional, Energy and Ecstatic Practice . Her latest book is “ Are We There Yet? Travel as a Spiritual Practice “, published by Ben Yehuda Press

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English transliteration of tefilat haderech, english translation of tefilat haderech.

Tefillat HaDerech

Every time my wife and I get on a plane, as we're heading above 10,000 feet, one of us will take out a Siddur and say the Tefillat Haderech, the traveler's prayer, and then pass the prayer book to the other. It's pure superstition, an unusual departure from our normally logical movements. This class came out of a desire to better understand the sources of this prayer.

Travelling is scary. Journeys are scary. Sometimes we set out on a road, and we don't know where we are going. This is the response to these emotions by the Rabbis of the Talmud.

On the topic of prayers recited while traveling and in times of danger, the Gemara discusses the traveler’s prayer. When he appeared to him, Elijah the Prophet said to Rav Yehuda brother of Rav Sala Ḥasida: Do not get angry and you will not sin. Do not get drunk and you will not sin. And when you set out on a journey, consult with your Creator, and then set out. Rabbi Ya’akov said that Rav Ḥisda said: That is the traveler’s prayer. And Rabbi Ya’akov said that Rav Ḥisda said: It is not only good advice, but established halakha that anyone who sets out on a journey must recite the traveler’s prayer prior to embarking on his journey.

See! It's Halacha! Or, at least, it was enough of a collective neuroses that everyone had to say it. But what is it's formulation?

The Gemara asks: What is the formula for the traveler’s prayer? The Gemara answers: May it be Your will, Lord my God, to lead me to peace, direct my steps to peace, and guide me to peace, and rescue me from the hands of any enemy or ambush along the way, and send blessing to the work of my hands, and let me find grace, kindness, and compassion in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see me. Blessed are You, Lord, Who hears prayer.

So there it is! The traveler's prayer! Except (spoiler alert) this won't be the final version.

Is there anything in this version that surprises you? Is there anything that you expected to be in the traveler's prayer that isn't here (yet)?

We're now going to explore three changes/additions/clarifications which were made to the traveler's prayer: A change in pronouns (from the 'me' to the 'we'), a clarification of time (when does a journey truly begin?), and how often must it be said.

אמר אביי לעולם לישתף איניש נפשיה בהדי צבורא היכי נימא יהי רצון מלפניך ה' אלהינו שתוליכנו לשלום וכו'

Abaye says: at all times a person should associate himself with the congregation and should not pray for himself alone. How should he say it? May it be Your will, Lord our God, that You lead us to peace, etc., in the plural.

One should not prayer a short prayer in the singular but rather in the plural, as this is the way one's prayer can be heard

אימת מצלי אמר רבי יעקב אמר רב חסדא משעה שמהלך בדרך

The Gemara discusses specific details pertaining to this prayer. When does one pray? Rabbi Ya’akov said that Rav Ḥisda said: From when one sets out on his journey, and not before.

(ה) א"צ לומר אותה אלא פעם אחת ביום אפי' אם ינוח בעיר באמצע היום אבל אם דעתו ללון בעיר ואח"כ נמלך ויצא ממנה לעבור חוצה לה או לשוב לביתו צריך לחזור ולהתפלל אותה פעם אחרת:

One only has to say the prayer once per day, even if they have rested in another city in the middle of the day. But if it is their intention to stay over in the city, and afterwards they walk and leave it to go outside the city or to return home, then one has to return and say the prayer again.

עד כמה אמר רבי יעקב אמר רב חסדא עד פרסה

How long must one’s planned journey be in order to require him to recite this prayer ( Ba’al Halakhot Gedolot )? Rabbi Ya’akov said that Rav Ḥisda said: At least a parasang.

עד פרסה -...אפי' אין לו לילך אלא עד פרסה אבל דרך פחות מפרסה אין צריך להתפלל תפלה זו:

Even if one is only travelling a parasang, but if it is less than a parasang, one does not have to say this prayer.

This last text brings up a question which is coming up: What is a journey? When does it begin and end? How long is the length of a journey? Is it door to door or country to country or is it when I go from feeling 'homed' to feeling 'homed'?

And when we pray, does our posture matter?

והיכי מצלי לה רב חסדא אמר מעומד רב ששת אמר אפילו מהלך

How does he recite this prayer? Rav Ḥisda said: Only while standing in one place. Rav Sheshet said: Even walking or sitting.

(ד) ואם אפשר יעמוד מלילך כשיאמרנה ואם היה רוכב א"צ לירד:

And if one can stand then they should, and if one is riding something then there is no need to come down

And now, the final formulation. Safe travels!

(א) יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְפָנֶיךָ יי אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ,

(ב) שֶׁתּוֹלִיכֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם וְתַצְעִידֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם וְתַדְרִיכֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם, וְתִסְמְכֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם ,

(ג) וְתַגִּיעֵנוּ לִמְחוֹז חֶפְצֵנוּ לְחַיִּים וּלְשִׂמְחָה וּלְשָׁלוֹם.

(ד) אם דעתו לחזור מיד אומר וְתַחְזִירֵנוּ לְשָׁלוֹם

(ה) וְתַצִּילֵנוּ מִכַּף כָּל אוֹיֵב וְאוֹרֵב וְלִסְטִים וְחַיּוֹת רָעוֹת בַּדֶּרֶךְ,

(ו) וּמִכָּל מִינֵי פֻּרְעָנֻיּוֹת הַמִּתְרַגְּשׁוֹת לָבוֹא לָעוֹלָם,

(ז) וְתִתְּנֵנוּ לְחֵן וּלְחֶסֶד וּלְרַחֲמִים בְּעֵינֶיךָ וּבְעֵינֵי כָל רֹאֵינוּ,

(ח) כִּי אל שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה וְתַחֲנוּן אַתָּה.

(ט) בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה לפי נוסח ספרד יי שׁוֹמֵעַ תְּפִלָּה:

May it be Your will, G‑d, our G‑d and the G‑d of our ancestors, that You should lead us in peace and direct our footsteps in peace, and guide us in peace, and support us in peace, and cause us to reach our destination in life, joy, and peace ( If one intends to return immediately, one adds: and return us in peace). Save us from every enemy and ambush, from robbers and wild beasts on the trip, and from all kinds of punishments that rage and come to the world. May You confer blessing upon the work of our hands and grant me grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us, and bestow upon us abundant kindness and hearken to the voice of our prayer, for You hear the prayers of all. Blessed are You G‑d, who listens to prayer.

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The traditional jewish traveler’s prayer, published december 13, 2018 | updated august 26, 2019.

by Gabriella Tzin

B efore embarking on a journey, regardless of whether it is a trip by way of car, airplane, or boat, there is a traditional Jewish prayer that is often recited. This unique prayer is known as the Traveler’s Prayer in English, however in Hebrew it is called “tefilat haderech,” (תפילת הדרך). The origin of the Traveler’s Prayer is found in the Gemara, which is part of the Talmud or oral law.

This prayer serves as a request for a safe and peaceful journey that is free of all trouble. It asks the Lord to watch over the travelers while on their journey and to prevent any dangers from occurring. Traditionally, one recites this prayer if the journey is longer than one parsah (פרסה) and after leaving the city limits. A parsah is an ancient Hebrew unit of measurement that equates to approximately 6 kilometers (roughly 4 miles) in modern terms.

The translation of the Traveler’s Prayer is as follows:

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.

This prayer is a wonderful and special way to start off your travels with a focus on God. We hope that it will be meaningful and useful to you as you travel during this holiday season or during any other time of the year.

About Gabriella Tzin

Gabriella is the content writer for Netivyah Bible Instruction Ministry in Jerusalem. She enjoys hiking and exploring the great outdoors with her husband and cat in her spare time. Some of her other hobbies and interests include raising chickens, sheep wrestling, shotgun skeet shooting, yoga, photography, and making mosaics.

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5 thoughts on “The Traditional Jewish Traveler’s Prayer”

Beautiful prayer

Love to pray the prair daly before driving.

So beautiful, thank God for His mercy

The prayer is in my passport so I have it always with me.

Thank You! Beautiful Prayer!!!!

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Travelers Prayer: Tefillat Haderech

This Travelers Prayer is our gift to you - the traditional Jewish Tefillat Haderech , in English and Hebrew.

This beautiful Tefillat Haderech is the centuries-old wayfarer's prayer used by travelers all over the world. It is in English and Hebrew, suitable both for high-quality printing and framing, or to print in a small size to carry around in your wallet.

This ancient prayer was composed over a thousand seven hundred years ago by the Sages of the Talmud . It asks God to protect us from "accidents, bandits, wild animals and all types of calamities that befall the world". Whether we travel by camel, horseback, car or airplane, it remains as relevant today as it was then.

The prayer is usually recited at the start of a journey, once one has left the city one is departing.

May your journeys always be safe and blessed, and may your year be sweet!

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The תפילה נוספת לנוסע באוירון (Special Addition to the Traveler’s Prayer for Airplane Travel) was shared by the Hebrew Academy of Cleveland, Ohio many years ago as a foldable pamphlet. We are sharing it here for the posterity of an ephemeral 20th century prayer of unknown authorship and origin. If you know the author or origin of this prayer please contact us .

Notes [ + ]

Aharon N. Varady (editing/transcription)

Aharon Varady (M.A.J.Ed./JTSA Davidson) is a volunteer transcriber for the Open Siddur Project. If you find any mistakes in his transcriptions, please let him know . Shgiyot mi yavin; Ministarot naqeni שְׁגִיאוֹת מִי־יָבִין; מִנִּסְתָּרוֹת נַקֵּנִי "Who can know all one's flaws? From hidden errors, correct me" (Psalms 19:13). If you'd like to directly support his work, please consider donating via his Patreon account . (Varady also translates prayers and contributes his own original work besides serving as the primary shammes of the Open Siddur Project and its website, opensiddur.org.)

Unknown Author(s)

Sometimes the best we can do in attributing a historical work is to indicate the period and place it was written, the first prayer book it may have been printed in, or the archival collection in which the manuscript was found. We invite the public to help to attribute all works to their original composers. If you know something not mentioned in the commentary offered, please leave a comment or contact us .

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4 comments to תפילת הדרך | the traveler’s prayer (with a supplement for airplane travel).

Here’s my airplane traveler’s prayer:

Blessed are You, Holy One on whose wings we fly May it be for the benefit of All that I undertake this journey And so may I arrive safely, swiftly, and uneventfully at my destination And upon completing my work (trip, travels) may I arrive safely, swiftly and uneventfully home again

[said as wheels leave the ground]

Blessed are You, Holy One, on whose wings we fly

Thank you Ketzirah!

Hello! Do you know if there are differences between the Ashkenazi and Sfardi text or transliteration of the tefilat haderech?

Yes, there are a number of subtle variations of the Tefilat HaDerekh, mainly supplementing words added here and there. There is also a question of whether the formula at the end should include the divine name, making it a blessing.

Comments, Corrections, and Queries Cancel reply

• The views expressed in this work represent the views of their creator(s) and do not necessarily represent the views of the Open Siddur Project's developers, its diverse community of volunteer contributors, or its institutional partners.
• We strongly advise against printing sacred texts and art containing divine names as these copies must be regarded with reverence , complicating their casual treatment and disposal.
• If you must dispose of a printed sacred text (one containing Divine Names), please locate the closest genizah (often established by a synagogue) and contact its custodians for further instructions. We also recommend using Morah Yehudis Fishman's Prayer for Adding a Work to the Genizah .

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• Resource Types  >>  Songs  >>  Tefillat Haderech (Traveler's Prayer) by Debbie Friedman

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words and music by Debbie Friedman,  debbiefriedman.com Tefillat Haderech , also known as the "wayfarer's prayer," originally founded in Talmud Brachot and later appearing in prayerbooks offers a blessing to those who are about to embark upon a journey. Debbie Friedman's song and sentiment that can be shared on any occasion that involves a journey. Lyrics: CHORUS May we be blessed as we go on our way May we be guided in peace May we be blessed with health and joy May this our blessing, amen. May we be sheltered by the wings of peace May we be kept in safety and in love May grace and compassion find their way to every soul May this be our blessing, amen. Amen, may this be our blessing, amen.

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• Apr 25, 2021

The Traveler's Prayer and Virtual Travel

My family was "traveling" from our home before virtual travel was cool.

When I was a kid, a few times a year my family and I would choose a country that we wanted to visit, research everything about the location from it's arts, dance, music, and culture, to the language, and of course, it's food.

Our very first "trip" was to Cuba. Sitting on a row of plastic red chairs in our basement, our "airplane," we flew to Cuba, got off the makeshift plane, made Cuba t-shirts to remember our trip by, spent the day cooking Cuban food in the kitchen, and took part in a variety of Cuban activities. We danced, we listened to music, and we learned some basic Spanish words. (A few years later when we "traveled" to India, we even got to wear traditional Indian clothing, borrowed from my dad's friend.)

Although physically still in Cleveland, Ohio, each time we "traveled," for an entire day, I was immersed in the life of another country, filled with the excitement that real travel brings.

In 2020, the rest of the world seemed to discover my childhood world of virtual travel--but instead of makeshift airplanes in the basement, desk chairs and couches became the mode through which tons of exploring happened. With the emergence of virtual travel, naturally, Jewish themed virtual travel became popular as well.

It is now possible to tour synagogues, Jewish quarters, even full Jewish museums, from the comfort of our homes. Organizations like the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee have arranged full week length virtual trips to visit Jewish communities around the world.

In July 2020 I participated in a virtual week-long trip to Jewish Morocco. Everything about the trip emulated what an in-person group travel experience would have included: I was part of a cohort of individuals who I got to know better over the course of our trip. We had reflection sessions after activities and tours, to discuss our thoughts. We even received a souvenir from our trip in the mail, and took a group photo through our Zoom squares.

Jewish virtual travel has grown in such a way that it is the next best thing to real travel. The trips are carefully planned, and the itineraries carefully curated, to feel as close as possible to real travel. With this being the case, I began to wonder: should we say Tefilat Haderech , the Jewish Traveler's Prayer, before virtual travel?

Tefilat Haderech, a prayer for a safe journey, is recited after the onset of every journey. (Some people believe it should be said after departing the city limits.) There was never a Jewish youth group trip or bus ride to my Jewish sleepaway camp that didn't include this prayer. Regardless of the mode of transport used for travel, for example, whether by airplane, boat, car, train, or feet, it is customary to recite this prayer when embarking on a trip. The prayer asks God to deliver the travelers safely, to protect them from any dangers they may encounter along the way, and to return them in peace.

In literal terms, there should not be any dangers encountered during virtual travel (except the potential interruption of Zoom bombers), and participants in virtual travel do not actually go and then return anywhere. The whole "journey" takes place from one's home. It is really hard to imagine what type of protection a virtual traveler would need.

While I'm not a rabbi, nor am I any sort of Jewish law expert, my understanding is that for someone who follows Halakhah (the collective body of Jewish religious laws derived from the written and Oral Torah), there is no Halakhic obligation to recite Tefilat Haderach prior to virtual travel. Virtual travel could be equated to watching a movie--and why would we say Tefilat Haderech for watching a movie?

That being said, I don't think there is anything wrong with saying Tefilat Haderech before virtual travel, and I don't believe there is an issue with taking extra precaution.

As we have already learned, it is customary to say this prayer prior to travel, regardless of the mode of transport. In the case of virtual travel, isn't our computer screens our mode of transport? Virtual travel is simply another way of traveling.

The idea behind virtual travel comes from the whole reason we travel at all. People travel because of a love for different cultures, a desire to just leave everything behind, an interest in meeting new people, experiencing new things or searching for a sense of self, and, most importantly, we travel to learn.

When virtually traveling, we do so for all the same reasons as real travel, striving to emulate real travel. When we emulate real travel, that is when we set up the plastic chairs in the basement to pretend we are on an airplane, we create a cohort of travelers so that we can meet new people, and we go on video tours of a variety of locations so that we can actually see history. Why should it be any different with the Traveler's Prayer? Saying the Traveler's Prayer before virtual travel is just another way to make virtual travel seem as real as possible.

Interestingly, there are some differences between Ashkenazim (Jewish people of central or eastern European descent) and Sephardim (Jewish people of Spanish or Portuguese descent,) on how Tefilat Haderech should be said. Sephardim hold that no matter what mode of transportation is used, if one travels at least 72 minutes from one city to another city then one should say Tefilat Haderech. Even if there are cities along the way, the Sephardic custom is to say Tefilat Haderech.

Unlike the Sephardim who stick to the 72 minutes measurement, according to Ashkenazim, as long as the distance traveled is 3.84 kilometers, then one should say the prayer. Additionally, if there is a continuous line of cities along the way, one should say Tefilat Haderech without reciting God's name in the prayer. This shows an ability to adapt the prayer to fit a situation. Maybe virtual travel also calls for adapting the Traveler's Prayer to fit this new situation: changing the prayer around so that it is specifically geared towards virtual travel.

While many people hold the belief that the Traveler's Prayer is mainly for safety, others maintain that reciting the Traveler’s Prayer is a way for individuals to express their hopes as they embark on a trip. Personally, I like this interpretation. As we embark on a trip, in person or virtually, we all have hopes for what we want to get out of the journey, knowledge we hope to gain, people we hope to meet, new connections and ideas we hope to form.

Why should we give up a tradition that is part of Jewish travel, just because we are now partaking in Jewish travel virtually? We can replicate the experience of saying the Traveler's Prayer, so that when we do return to in-person travel, individuals remember that Tefilat Haderech is part of the Jewish journey. At the same time, we can adapt the prayer to fit our current needs.

My parents wanted my sister and I to "explore" different countries as kids, so that we could experience all that the world has to offer. From start to finish we set up our virtual trips as if we were actually moving destinations. With modern day virtual travel now available for all ages, saying some version of Tefilat Haderech will allow us to remember who we are as a people and why we set out on a virtual journey.

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Traveler’s prayer chabad.

The Traveler’s Prayer, also known as the Tefilat Haderech, is a prayer recited by Jewish travelers. It is a part of the Chabad-Lubavitch customs and has been passed down through generations. The Traveler’s Prayer is typically recited at the beginning of a journey, whether it be by plane, car, or any other form of transportation. This prayer is meant to provide protection for the traveler and ensure a safe journey.

The Origin of the Traveler’s Prayer

The Traveler’s Prayer has its roots in the Talmud, which is a central text of Judaism. The Talmud refers to the concept of a “dangerous road” and the need for protection while traveling. The Traveler’s Prayer was then developed as a specific prayer for safe travel.

The Chabad-Lubavitch community has a deep connection to the Traveler’s Prayer. It is said that the founder of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, would recite the Traveler’s Prayer before embarking on any journey. Today, the Traveler’s Prayer is an integral part of Chabad-Lubavitch customs and is recited by many Jews around the world.

The Text of the Traveler’s Prayer

The Traveler’s Prayer is relatively short and can be recited in Hebrew or any other language. Here is the text of the Traveler’s Prayer in English:

“May it be Your will, Lord my God and God of my fathers, to lead me, to direct my steps, and to support me in peace. Lead me in life, tranquil and serene, until I arrive at the place where I am going. Deliver me from every enemy and ambush along the way, and from all afflictions that visit and trouble the world. Bless the work of my hands. Let me receive divine grace, and those who travel with me. Do good to me in Your kindness, and grant me grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see me. Hear my prayer, for You hear the prayers of all. Blessed are You, Lord, who hears prayer.”

FAQs About the Traveler’s Prayer

The Traveler’s Prayer is a powerful prayer that has been passed down through generations of Jewish travelers. It provides comfort and protection for those embarking on a journey and is an integral part of Chabad-Lubavitch customs. Whether recited in Hebrew or any other language, the Traveler’s Prayer is a reminder of the importance of safety and protection while traveling.

Prayer For Travelers Jewish

In the name of God I go on this journey. May God the Father be with me, God the Son protect me, and God the Holy Ghost be by my side. Amen.

Lord, be our guide and our protector on the journey we are about to take. Watch over us. Protect us from accidents. Keep us free from harm to body and soul. Lord, support us with Your grace when we are tired. Help us be patient in any trouble which may come our way. Keep us always mindful of Your presence and love. Amen.

May it be Your will, o 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, our Lord, Who hears prayer. Amen.

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.

May it be Your will, L-rd our G-d and G-d of our fathers, to lead us in peace and direct our steps in peace; to guide us in peace, to support us in peace and to bring us to our destination in life, joy and peace. Deliver us from the hands of every enemy and lurking foe, from robbers and wild beasts on the journey, and from all kinds of calamities that may come to and afflict the world; and bestow blessing upon all our actions. Grant me grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who behold us, and bestow bountiful kindness upon us. Hear the voice of our prayer, for You hear everyone's prayer. Blessed are You L-rd, who hears prayer.

Related prayers

• Prayer For Traveling Family
• Prayer For Traveling By Plane
• Prayer For Traveling Abroad
• Prayer For Traveling
• Prayer For Travelers Safety

Ben-Gvir atop Temple Mount: My policy is to…

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Ben-gvir atop temple mount: my policy is to allow jewish prayer.

“We are here on Tisha B’Av, at the Temple Mount, to commemorate the destruction of the Holy Temple. As I said—our policy is to allow prayer,” he said.

The minister added that he had visited the Temple Mount to pray for “the return of the hostages, the peace of the soldiers and victory in the war.”

Fellow Otzma Yehudit Party member and Development of the Periphery, the Negev and the Galilee Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf joined Ben-Gvir, along with hundreds of other Jewish worshippers. Dozens of pilgrims prostrated themselves in prayer, in violation of the status quo that forbids Jews from praying on the Temple Mount.

Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee member Amit Halevi of the Likud Party also visited the site.

Following Ben-Gvir’s visit and remarks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office released a statement emphasizing that “it is the government and the prime minister who determine policy on the Temple Mount. There is no private policy of any minister—not the national security minister or any other minister—on the Temple Mount. Thus it has been under all governments of Israel.”

The statement continued: “This morning’s incident on the Temple Mount deviated from the status quo. Israel’s policy on the Temple Mount has not changed; this is how it has been and this is how it will be.”

Police detained 40 Israelis who visited the site after waving Israeli flags, kneeling or lying on the ground. Twenty-nine of them were warned and 11 were detained for investigation, according to Kan News. Some of the visitors sang Israel’s national anthem.

No security incidents were reported.

A spokesman for Palestinian Authority chief Mahmoud Abbas described Ben-Gvir’s ascent as a “provocation” and warned of violent consequences.

“We demand that the U.S. administration intervene immediately to force the occupation government to stop these provocations against the holy religious sites, preserve the historical and legal status in the city of Jerusalem, and stop the aggression against Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, and the attacks in the West Bank [Judea and Samaria] if it wants to prevent the region from exploding in an uncontrollable manner,” said Nabil Abu Rudeineh.

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant also criticized the visit, saying that “there is a fireman sitting in the Israeli government who is trying to set fire to the Middle East. He opposes any negotiations, to bring him into the War Cabinet—this will allow him to realize his plans,” he said, apparently referring to Ben-Gvir.

MK Moshe Gafni, head of the United Torah Judaism Party, said, “The damage [Ben-Gvir] is causing to the Jewish people is unbearably great, and this adds to the gratuitous hatred on the day of the destruction of the Temple.” He added that UTJ “will have to check … if we can be partners with him, and we will make this clear to the prime minister as well.”

The Chief Rabbinate of Israel has upheld a Halakhic (Jewish legal) prohibition on Jews visiting and praying at the Temple Mount.

“The elders of the generation and the Chief Rabbinate Council of Israel have already enumerated and decreed and agreed with all force to erect a fence and warn with a stern warning that no one should enter the Temple Mount area,” said Interior Minister Moshe Arbel of the Shas Party.

Opposition leader and Yesh Atid Party head Yair Lapid also slammed the visit.

“Ben-Gvir’s election campaign on the Temple Mount, in complete opposition to the position of the security forces, during a war, endangers the lives of Israeli citizens and the lives of our soldiers and policemen,” he said.

“The group of irresponsible extremists in the government is trying hard to drag Israel into an all-out regional war. These people cannot run a country,” he added.

In June, Ben-Gvir said he intends to allow all Jews to openly pray at Judaism’s holiest site, changing the status quo that has existed there since 1967.

The status quo against Jewish prayer at the Temple Mount was never ratified in legislation. There are various references to it over the years by all branches of government, but not in a way that grants it an independent legal status.

In response to that statement, the Israel Police declared that Jewish prayer remains prohibited on the Temple Mount. The PMO also disavowed Ben-Gvir’s words.

Since the beginning of the Hebrew year, nearly 48,000 Jews have visited the Temple Mount, according to data compiled by Beyadenu, an Israeli NGO dedicated to strengthening the Jewish connection to the site.

To read more content visit www.jns.org

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