A Blessing Adjacent to Another in the Traveler's Prayer
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Question
Thank you for the answer regarding 'adjacent to another' in the Traveler's Prayer. I feel awkward, but now I realize that I don't know the source for what I'm doing... So what is really the matter with making it 'adjacent to another' in the Traveler's Prayer, and why is it different from other blessings where this is not done?
Answer
Hello,
The rule for blessings is that a short blessing begins with 'Blessed' and does not end with 'Blessed', as with the initial blessings over food.
A longer blessing begins and ends with 'Blessed', like the 'Me'ein Shalosh' blessing and the 'Asher Yatzar' blessing.
However, a blessing adjacent to another does not begin with 'Blessed' and only ends with it. An adjacent blessing was established to be next to another blessing, and the first blessing begins with 'Blessed', so the subsequent blessing [or several blessings after it] does not begin with 'Blessed'. For example, in the Grace After Meals: the first blessing begins and ends with 'Blessed', but the subsequent blessings, 'Nodeh' and 'Rachem', do not begin with 'Blessed', because they are adjacent to the first blessing. The same applies to the 'Shemoneh Esrei' blessings.
In the Traveler's Prayer, there is a unique aspect that according to the text established for us, it is a long blessing, but it does not begin with 'Blessed', only ends with it.
The early authorities provided several reasons for this, but the Maharam of Rothenburg did not agree with these reasons, and therefore he insisted on making the blessing adjacent to another, so there would be no need to begin it with 'Blessed'.
According to Halacha: The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim, Siman 110, Se'if 6) mentions the custom of the Maharam of Rothenburg. The Mishnah Berurah (Subsection 28) writes that if it is not possible to do so, one can rely on the opinion of four other early authorities who believed there is no need to make it adjacent to another blessing.
Source
Tur Orach Chaim, Laws of Prayer, Siman 110
And the reason it does not begin with 'Blessed', explains the Ri, is because it is merely a prayer to the Almighty to lead us in peace, and it is not like blessings of enjoyment or blessings established for an event, but a request for mercy, and due to its length, it concludes with 'Blessed'. And the Maharam of Rothenburg, when he would set out on a journey in the morning, would say it after 'Yehi Ratzon' to make it adjacent to the blessing of 'Gomel Chasadim', and it would be a blessing adjacent to another.