“Kefitzat HaDerech” and a Segula for Avoiding Traffic Jams
It is known that many holy tzadikim—Rashbi, the Ari HaKadosh, and the Baal Shem Tov—made use of “
kefitzat ha-derech” (a shortening of the journey), which enabled them to arrive instantly at a completely different place, despite the great distances.
The Baal Shem Tov had a coachman named Alexei, and during “
kefitzat ha-derech” he would fall asleep, the reins would slip from his hands, and the horse would barely move—yet the carriage would race along incredibly fast.
A collection of the Baal Shem Tov’s commentary on the Torah states that the Name of G-d through which one can bring about “
kefitzat ha-derech” is found in the Torah in the phrase from Genesis (24:42):
ואבוא היום אל העין
— “Va'avo hayom el ha'ayin...” — (“And I came today to the spring...”)
This phrase refers to Eliezer, who also experienced “
kefitzat ha-derech”: after setting out with the caravan from Avraham, he immediately found himself beside the well where he met Rivkah.
The distance from the home of Avraham Avinu to the home of Rivkah Imeinu was a
17-day journey, and Avraham Avinu revealed to his servant Eliezer a “Shem Kadosh” for “
kefitzat ha-derech”—its gematria was equal to
17.
If we take the rashei teivot of
ואבוא היום אל, we obtain this Name.
Segula for Avoiding Traffic Jams
Many years ago, the yeshiva “Kisei Rachamim” passed down a tradition that the measurements of the Beit HaMikdash serve as a segula for a safe journey, protecting from all dangers—and in our time, from traffic jams. The source of this tradition is Tractate Middot.
These are the measurements of the Beit HaMikdash
11 — echad esrei
11 — echad esrei
32 — shloshim u-shtayim
22 — esrim u-shtayim
100 — me'ah
11 — echad esrei
(Based on Rav Yaakov Doctor’s book “At the Shabbat Table,” and a lesson by Rav Yitzchak Cohen, a student of “Matok MiDvash”)
[P.S. The photograph features a work by Luda Miriam Shulman, provided to the site]
Was this helpful?
100% of readers found this article helpful (42 votes).
Please note: some articles on our site contain the holy Names of the Almighty. If you print these articles, they may not be thrown away or destroyed. Please handle printed copies with care and respect.
