Chapter 68:4-6
The Laws Pertaining to Traveling
4. Tefillas haderech should be recited in a stationary position. A person
who is riding an animal or sitting in a wagon should try to cause the
animal to halt, because a person riding is considered to be walking.* If
that is impossible, he may recite the prayer in his present position.
* {The Misgeres Hashulchon 8 emphasizes that even when riding in a
carriage, one should stand while reciting the blessing.}
5. Generally, Tefillas haderech should be recited only once on each day of
one's journey. However, if a person stops in a city with the intention of
lodging there overnight, and afterwards changes his mind and decides to
proceed further or return home, he should recite it a second time.
A person who journeys during both the night and the day, or spends the
night in an unsettled area, should mention G-d's name only in the
concluding blessing of the prayer on the first day. Afterwards, he should
not mention G-d's name in the blessing [and conclude merely Boruch shome'a
tefilloh. G-d's name should not be mentioned because] until he lodges in a
settled area, the entire trip is considered to be a single journey.
6. Before departing on a journey, one should donate to charity, as [implied
by Psalms 85:14]: "Righteousness shall precede before him as he sets out on
the journey." [The Hebrew for "righteousness," tzedek, is related to the
word tzedakah, charity.]
Also, he should take leave from the leading men of his city, [asking] their
blessing for the success of the journey. He should try to have some people
accompany him [as he leaves his city].
A person accompanying a colleague setting off on a journey should part from
him as follows: He should remain standing in one place until he can no
longer see the person setting off on the journey.
When blessing a colleague setting off on a journey, one should say Lech
l'sholom [Go towards peace] and not Lech b'sholom [Go in peace]. We find
that King David wished his son, Avsholom, "Go in peace" (II Samuel 15:9),
and [the latter set out on a path of rebellion which ultimately led to] his
being hanged. In contrast, Jethro wished Moses: "Go towards peace" (Exodus
4:18), and he proceeded with success.
While on a journey, one should study Torah, as [Deuteronomy 6:7] commands:
"[and you shall speak of them...] as you walk on the way." Each day, one
should say certain passages of psalms with conviction, in a spirit of
humility. One should take bread with him, even when journeying towards a
destination which is close. Also, one should take an extra pair of tzitzis
with him, lest the tzitzis he is wearing become halachically unacceptable,
and he would thus be prevented from carrying out the mitzvah.*
* {The Mishnah B'rurah 110:20 stresses the importance of taking one's
tallis and tefillin on all journeys, lest he be unable to borrow such
objects from a colleague. Even when planning to return on the same day, it
is proper to take one's tallis and tefillin, because one may be forced to
prolong the trip.}
[Pesachim 2a] teaches: "A person should always enter in daylight and set
out in daylight" i.e., when a person seeks lodging at night, he should
enter while the sun is shining and not leave the following morning until
the sun appears on the horizon. This will bring him good, as [Genesis 1:4]
states: "And G-d saw the light and it was good."
A person should not eat a large amount while on a journey.
