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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.

  1. Why? What is the halachic basis for this?
  2. If bowing directly on the floor without anything placed in between is indeed assur, why do we do it?
  3. Should it be under my head? under my knees? both? somewhere else?
  4. How bad is it if I didn't do it - is it a rabbinic infraction or is it akin to idol worship?

Partly addressed here

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    Certainly because of "Ushmartem meod es bigdeichem". #PurimTorah
    – HodofHod
    Jun 5, 2012 at 14:02
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    I think you are asking an overly broad question (you've identified 4 questions). Also, two of your questions have been asked and at least partially answered elsewhere (as you've pointed out). I think you should ask your original questions individually.
    – Seth J
    Jun 5, 2012 at 17:14
  • FWIW, I roll up the top of my tallit prior to korim as a cushion for my head.
    – Noach MiFrankfurt
    Jul 14, 2015 at 18:37

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Vayikra 26:1 says:

You shall not make idols for yourselves, nor shall you set up a statue or a monument for yourselves. And in your land you shall not place a pavement stone on which to prostrate yourselves, for I am the Lord, your God.

This teaches us (See Chinuch, Mitvah 349) that one is not allowed to prostrate oneself on stone outside the Beit HaMikdash (since it says "in your land"). The Rabbis extended this prohibition to even forbid bowing on one's knees (without prostrating oneself) on stone.

The Rambam says that this is because this was the way non-Jews would worship their gods. They would place decorated stones before their gods and use them to bow to their gods.

The Chinuch (I think) adds that it is possible that it may appear that one is worshiping the stone itself, since it is set aside and decorated, etc. However, the Chinuch says, if one were to prostrate oneself on a carpet (even a nice one), we aren't worried that one will turn it into a god, since it will (relative to the rock) quickly wear out.

Rashi (Megilla 22B) indicates that the issue is not to bow the way they bowed in the Beit Hamikdash (it appears that he hold it is forbidden to build a Beit HaKnesset with a stone floor - I'm not sure if that's right)

Halachically Speaking Volume 5, Issue 14 discusses this at length, and says "All sources say a separation is required between ones face and the ground not a separation between the knees and the ground." but continues "Some say falling on one’s knees alone is going in the ways of the non-Jews and one should avoid this.". According to that perhaps one should put something between his face and knees as well.

Chabad custom is not to worry about this if the floor is made out of wood.

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The Isur is to bow with your face toward a stone floor. Therefore the paper should be between your face and the floor.

Bowing with your face toward a stone floor without spreading your hands and feet is only a rabbinic prohibition.

I believe the source is in Mishnah Berurah 131. I will look it up and correct it if it's the wrong place.

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  • Thanks, I added a question about why we do it if it's assur, can you address?
    – user1552
    Jun 5, 2012 at 15:12
  • to a stone floor or on a stone floor?
    – ertert3terte
    Jun 5, 2012 at 19:22
  • @sethJ at the beginning of the bowing motion or at the end?
    – ertert3terte
    Jun 5, 2012 at 20:47
  • @ShmuelBrin I think Shmuly will have to answer that one. I was just trying to keep the two lines in the answer consistent.
    – Seth J
    Jun 5, 2012 at 20:57
  • source: hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=14164&pgnum=24 - Remah on 131:8 and Mishna Berura there
    – Menachem
    Jun 6, 2012 at 1:32

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