Tefilas Haderech - Recitation Requirements

QUESTION: When is one obligated to recite Tefilas Haderech?

ANSWER: The Rosh (Berachos 4:18) writes that if one will be traveling a parsah (8,000 amos; approximately 2 and 2/3 miles) or more away from a city, one must recite Tefilas Haderech due to the dangers of traveling on the road far from a city. Based on this reason, Mishnah Berurah (110:30) writes that even if one is traveling less than a parsah outside of the city, if the journey will pass through a dangerous area, one is likewise obligated to recite Tefilas Haderech. Rav Sternbuch (Teshuvos V’Hanhagos 1:199) writes in the name of the Chazon Ish that every car ride today presents a danger, and even inside a city, it would be proper to recite Tefilas Haderech, but we do not have the ability to institute this change to common practice. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Minchas Shlomo 2:60:4) makes the opposite argument: Today, the roads are patrolled by police. Even if one travels outside the city, one can argue that there is no danger of bandits. He admits that this approach is novel. The common custom is to recite Tefilas Haderech if one travels a parsah outside of the city.

Based on the above it follows that if a trip originates in a city, and ends in a city, the distance between the cities must be at least 2 parsah (approximately 5 1/3 miles), because otherwise one will never be a parsah away from a city (see Minchas Shlomo 2:60:4; see also Beiur Halacha 110, s.v. ve’ain). (This point will be discussed further in an upcoming Halacha Yomis)

The Mishnah Berurah (110:30) writes that Tefilas Haderech is said whether one is traveling by foot, car, boat or train. (Airplanes will be discussed in a future Halacha Yomis.)

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