questions about bowing, kneeling, prostration, and all that good stuff
16
votes
3answers
499 views
Why do we bow down in the direction of the ark?
This is a question I've had for many years, to which I've never received a satisfactory answer:
In Hebrew school, we were taught that idolaters bowed to a idol of their god. They would claim that ...
13
votes
1answer
201 views
Is kneeling and bowing down in Kung Fu an idolatry (Avoda Zarah)?
I am exercising at Kung Fu's dojo and wonder whether kneeling and bowing down is an idolatry (Avodah Zarah)? The floor has soft mats. The reason explained to me is that it's done as a form of greeting ...
12
votes
1answer
286 views
Why don't we bow “correctly” during tefillah anymore?
According to the Gemara (Megillah 22b), and according to the RaMBa"M (Hil. Tefillah 5:13) (and apparently R' Avraham ben HaRaMBa"M was adamant), when we pray we are supposed to bow down ON our knees ...
7
votes
4answers
436 views
Lecha Dodi (לכה דודי) - Last Stanza
At Boi Veshalom (in Lecha Dodi), we turn around to greet the Shabbos queen. Firstly, to which direction are we supposed to turn? Is it towards the door of the synagogue, always to the rear of the ...
6
votes
3answers
174 views
How to bow during Shemone Esre
During the Shemone Esre, we bend our knees and then bow. I have observed two ways of doing this. One is to bend the knees, then to straighten the knees, and then to bow at the waist. The other is ...
6
votes
1answer
186 views
Bowing for oseh shalom
Why do we bow for oseh shalom in shmoneh esre and kaddish? There are two parts to this:
What is the relationship between bowing in general and oseh shalom?
What does each direction in which we bow ...
6
votes
2answers
124 views
Bowing during Barechu
Many Sepharadim have a custom to take a slight bow when saying Barechu both during Shacharit and Arvit. Others insist on standing. Is there any source for such a minhag in the sifrei Halacha (or ...
5
votes
3answers
187 views
Bending at “s'lach lanu”
I have seen many people bow slightly when striking their chests in recitation of the sixth b'racha of sh'moneh esrei. Is this a custom? Is there a source for it?
Anyone whom I've witnessed doing ...
5
votes
0answers
76 views
When was the bending of the knees in bowing introduced?
The Gemara in Berachos 12a says that we bow at Baruch and we straighten at Hashem. Nowadays the familiar practice is to bend the knee at Baruch, to bow at Atah, and to straighten at Hashem, as stated ...
4
votes
1answer
146 views
What exactly do you do and say when you fall Korim?
What exactly do you do and say when you fall Korim on Yom Kipur?
4
votes
2answers
131 views
Bowing to the floor on Yom Kippur
When you bow down completely to the floor on Yom Kippur many people place something on the ground so that they are not bowing directly on the ground.
Why? What is the halachic basis for this?
If ...
4
votes
1answer
115 views
Bowing at Modim D'Rabbanan
When the chazan reaches "Modim" during his repetition, the congregation recites "Modim D'Rabbanan." Do members of the congregation bow here? If so, in what manner should they bow?
4
votes
2answers
75 views
Why is it customary to bow at certain points when saying kaddish?
It is customary to bow at certain points when saying kaddish. The link is to a chabad site and I have seen bowing in other communities as well. At first sight (excuse pun) it appears to be a visual ...
2
votes
0answers
62 views
Onkelos on Deut. 4:19
In Devarim 4:19, Onkelos translates ונדחת as ותטעי and והשתחוית as ותסגוד.
First, what exactly is he trying to convey with ותטעי? I think of טעות as "whoops", and hopefully there's no serious damage, ...
1
vote
1answer
83 views
Why does Nusach Sefard kneel for the Se'ir LaShem in yom kippur mussaf?
I recall hearing something about how in Mussaf of Yom Kippur, Nusach Ashkenaz kneels for each of the three confessions (Cohen Gadol on bull; all Cohanim on bull; everyone on goat). Nusach Sefard adds ...
0
votes
2answers
86 views
As righteous as Joshua Son of Nun?
BS"D
After reading some questions posted on here I found my self reviewing Hilkhoth Tefilah, mainly the halakha of the amidah. While reading i noticed something that I have read countless times yet ...
