This class, like all classes, was sent to me by Hashem. But sometimes you see it clearly, and sometimes you do not.
For the past two years or so, I’ve been giving a class on Sundays, on an in-depth topic in the Gemarah, which comes from the syllabus of Bet Midrash Gavoha of Lakewood. It is called Shivti. It is a very enjoyable Limud.
Yesterday’s piece was on Tefilat HaDerech (the wayfarers prayer), and although it’s not specifically learned as a bitachon topic, since I have my bitachon lenses on, I saw some some very strong Bitachon lessons that I’d like to share with you.
In Masechet Berachot, the Gemarah describes how Eliyahu HaNavi once met up with a certain Amorah and offered him three pieces of advice.
The first was- Do not get angry, and you will not sin. Anger, which comes from arrogance, causes sin.
The second piece of advice was, do not get drunk, and you won’t sin, because too much alcohol in the system leads to desire- related issues.
Eliyhau HaNavi was basically telling the Amorah to stay away from arrogance and desire, because they cause sin.
Finally, he said, “Before you go on a trip, advise with your Creator.”
Why does that mean? The Gemarah says that this refers to Tefilat HaDerech, the prayer one is supposed to say when going on a trip. It is in all the siddurim (Questions about when in the journey to say it, and whether to say Hashem’s name or not, are not for today’s discussion). We ask Hashem to protect us on the road from any negativity. We ask that we should go and return peacefully.
The obvious question is, what did Eliyahu HaNavi mean that he should “advise with his Creator?”
We cannot talk to G-d. We aren’t the Kohen HaGadol, who can ask the Urim V’Tumim and get an answer. What did he mean?
Two answers are brought down. One applies to us and one does not.
One answer is that when Rav Hanina Ben Dosa prayed, he was able to say whether the person he was praying for would live or not. He knew that if the prayer was fluent in his lips and went smoothly, that meant the person would live. But if the prayer was not fluent on his lips, then the person would not live. So too, say the commentaries such as the Shelah HaKadosh and others, that if a person’s Tefilat HaDerech comes out smooth, that is Hashem saying that it’s safe to go on the trip, but if it doesn’t come out smooth, the trip shouldn’t take place.
This obviously doesn’t apply to us, because we are not on the level to say that Hashem gives us signs in our prayers, to the extent that Rav Hanina Ben Dosa was able to. This is only for choice people, so this answer seemingly does not apply apply to us. However, one of the Rishonim, called Sefer HaMichtam, has a different explanation of what this means, and it does apply to us. He says that “advise with your Creator” means that when you say Tefilat HaDerech, asking Hashem to protect you on the road you are actually saying two things. The first is, “I am on the road, Hashem please protect me.” The second thing you’re asking Hashem is, “If the trip isn’t good for me, stop the trip.”
You are actually making that request, which is why there are some opinions that say one should say Tefilat HaDerech early on in the trip, when you can still change your mind.
You are basically telling Hashem, as you are on your way to the airport, “If this flight isn’t good for me, let me miss the flight.” “If the boat is not a good boat for me, let me not get on the boat.” ... or any other way that Hashem can cancel or change our plans. That is what Tefilat HaDerech is, says the Sefer HaMichtam, and that is what “Advise with your Creator” means. We are making a proclamation to Hashem that we understand that He is running our lives.
He brings down the famous midrash about a man who was on his way to a boat trip but stubbed his toe so could not get on the boat. The boat later sank.
That is what
לעושה נפלאות לבדו ,
means. G-d does miracles that only G-d knows about.
אין בעל הנס מכיר בנסו
We don’t know the miracles that Hashem does for us, or how He’s protecting us.
That’s the statement of Tefilat HaDerech.
It’s a tremendous statement of reliance on G-d. We are saying we know that it’s Hashem taking us on the road. We ask Him to stop us if it’s not good for us.
When a flight is delayed, it’s not merely that we should accept it, but rather we should realize that we asked for it! It has been delayed because we said Tefilat HaDerech!
That is wonderful thought. And even if we do not say Tefilat HaDerech, we are supposed to understand this. But Tefilat HaDerech is an even greater statement. We are proclaiming that Hashem is protecting us, even by sometimes seemingly interfering with our plans. And when it happens, we like it, because we know it’s good for us.
That is powerful concept.
There is an even higher level, that of special, great people, that Rav Yerucham Levovitz describes. Great people would take takes signs- for example, if their wagon tipped over, they would cancel their trip, because they felt it was a sign that Hashem did not want them to go.
I do not know what it means to take a sign from Hashem in our day. I do not know what the system is. Is a flat tire a sign to go home, or does it mean we should be resilient and continue? I do not know how it works, so it is not something for us.
Regardless, the point is to understand that in life, Hashem is leading us and directing us. As we have mentioned before, we must follow the cloud. Everyone has a cloud in their life. Sometimes the cloud just stops, like you are stuck in traffic, so to say. Just like when they were in the desert, and they were not moving, because Hashem knew it was not the right time to move.
That is a beautiful, beautiful thought about Tefilat HaDerech.
So, if you have not been saying it until now, say it. And if you have been saying it, but you have not appreciated what you were saying, now you can appreciate it.
Next time you get on that trip, or that flight, and you say Tefilat HaDerech, understand that you are praying for the delays, the bad weather, and all the interferences. Don’t get frustrated, because you asked for it, because it’s exactly what you need.
What a beautiful thought, that started from a Gemarah class, that turned into a Bitachon class.
Have a wonderful day.