Travel Deeper: The Jewish Traveler’s eToolkit

Several people I know are traveling in the next few days to be with their families for Thanksgiving, so I thought it might be nice night to make a little travel toolkit of sorts for any of youse who might be interested.

Depending on which airports you find yourself in this approaching week, give a look and see if you find a kosher airport vending machine. Depending on how long you'll be wherever it is you're going, you might want to think about a travel shabbat kit, with items like travel candle holders (I have a hinged set similar to this set that is rad) or, if you're feeling crafty about it, you can always make your own set.

Maybe you're driving someplace. No worries with a car mezuzah, if that's your bag. (I feel weird about them. I roll with a hamsa on my keys instead, but whatevs.) And, last but certainly not least, if you use brachot and don't have this one committed to memory, here's a reminder:

????? ?????? ??????????? ?' ??-???????? ???-????? ???????????, ?????????????? ???????? ?????????????? ????????. ????????????? ????????. ?????????????? ????????. ???????????? ???????? ????????? ????????? ??????????? ?????????? ????????????? ?????? ???? ?????? ???????? ?????????? ????????? ?????? ????????? ???????? ?????? ??????????????? ??????????????? ?????? ???????? ????????? ???????? ????? ??????? ????????, ???????????? ????? ????????? ???????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??? ????????? ????????? ???? ??????????????. ???? ??-? ??????? ????????? ?????????? ???: ???????? ?????? ?', ??????? ?????????.

(Transliteration: Y'hi ratzon milfanekha A-donai E-loheinu ve-lohei avoteinu she-tolikhenu l'shalom v'tatz'idenu l'shalom v'tadrikhenu l'shalom, v'tagi'enu limhoz heftzenu l'hayim ul-simha ul-shalom. V'tatzilenu mi-kaf kol oyev v'orev v'listim v'hayot ra'ot ba-derekh, u-mi-kol minei pur'aniyot ha-mitrag'shot la-vo la-olam. V'tishlah b'rakha b'khol ma'a'se yadeinu v'tit'nenu l'hen ul-hesed ul-rahamim b'einekha uv-einei khol ro'einu. V'tishma kol tahanuneinu ki E-l sho'me'a t'fila v'tahanun ata. Barukh ata A-donai sho'me'a t'fila.)

Or, you can just click here and listen to it for yourself.

Safe travels and Shabbat Shalom.