I have observed a number of people who have completely changed their lifestyle from irreligious to observant (whom we now call “baalei teshuvah”) standing for all the davenning and even for the drosho.
Does this observance have a source?
asked Dec 25, 2012 at 12:18
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5I'm highly skeptical that you will find something. Any rule distinguishing a baal teshuva would seem to be in violation of Onaat Devarim judaism.stackexchange.com/q/18868/759.– Double AA ♦Dec 25, 2012 at 15:09
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10מקום שבעלי תשובה עומדין אין צדיקים גמורין יכולין לעמוד– Gershon GoldDec 25, 2012 at 17:45
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I asked (sensitively) one person who stands for everything why he does it. He answered that he is mostly tired. Standing helps him stay awake. I wonder, is this modesty?– Avrohom YitzchokDec 25, 2012 at 17:55
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1No it's not modesty. As a person who stands through all of shul, I do it so I don't fall asleep or have my mind wander.– aviFeb 3, 2013 at 19:53
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perhaps you could ask this person or persons why they stand for all of davening. also the shema specifically should be said seated whenever possible. unlike the tzadoykim and others who took the words literally and in the morning would stand for shema and at night would lie dow to say the shema.– DudeMar 15, 2016 at 2:24
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3 Answers
Usually Baalei Teshuvah are more stringent in the way they behave. Perhaps this is because they feel that they must do more than the average person in order to get close to G-d
More likely than being based on a source or a recommendation, is the fact that most Baal Tshuva people did not grow up going to Shul and sitting through services for such a long amount of time. They are therefore more likely to start falling asleep or having their mind wander and standing up prevents that from happening by being mildly uncomfortable. (Or atleast they think they are more likely, and don't have childhood practice to know differently)
While I don't stand for everything, I can say that it helps me to pray more quickly. So if I am likely to fall behind during Psukei D'Zimrah, I will often stand. Baalei teshuva are likely to be more prone to falling behind and wanting to keep pace. It could be that it is a habit learned early in increasing observance which then sticks. At least, this has been roughly my own experience.
answered May 22, 2013 at 4:02
