Travel Transgression: Tefillat HaDerech
Question
Dear Rabbi,
If I child takes his parent’s car without permission and against the orders of his parents (thereby constituting theft), and then he drives it far enough that t’filat haderech must be recited, is he still required to recite t’filat haderech? Is there any vainness to this blessing since his travel itself is sinful?
How about one who drives such a distance on Shabbat. Do they recite t’filat haderech, even though they are traveling in sin?
Answers
What a disturbing question! I hope and pray that there is no practical dimension to your asking.
Yes, Tefillat HaDerech should be recited. Even though the child is doing something that goes expressly against his parents’ wishes, nevertheless, the Tefillah of Tefillat HaDerech is defined by the Halachic parameters of how far the person is travelling and not by whether what they are doing is permitted or not. However, having said that, when it comes to driving on Shabbat then the child should not recite Tefillat HaDerech as the whole journey is forbidden. But, if the parent thinks that the child reciting Tefillat HaDerech is actually a way of reminding them that they are Jewish and might be the catalyst to their eventually returning to Mitzvah observance – then I think that the parents should not say anything to their child about Tefillat HaDerech in the hope that he will do Teshuvah for his ways.
Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team