Many postures and movements accompany prayers. Some are traditional and date back to thousands of years, while others are more recent innovations.
Jews stand during prayer as we would stand before royalty. It is generally accepted by our tradition that we stand for the Barchu, Hallel (psalms of praise), and the Amidah. Many Reform Jews also rise for the Shema, but it may surprise you to learn that not everyone does—this is because Shema is an affirmation, and not a direct address to God. Our tradition also teaches that one must say the Shema with kavanah. Some Jews close or cover their eyes while saying the first line in order to concentrate better.
Amidah literally means “standing up,” and is traditionally considered the most important prayer. It is traditional to bow down on the words “Baruch atah” and stand back up on “Adonai.” Bowing is a small-scale simulation of falling to the ground during Temple times to prostrate oneself before God. When bowing, one bends the knees, but rises up at the waist up. Although we bow for “Baruch atah Adonai,” there is no traditional basis for bowing at “elohei Avraham, elohei Yitzhak, v’elohei Yaakov, etc.”
During the morning K’dushah, we rise up on our tiptoes three times for “kadosh, kadosh, kadosh.” The Kabbalists were the first to suggest that the triple sanctification of God’s name is an indication that one must reach to God with one’s whole body. It is also an imitation of God’s ministering angels.
Some congregations will then sit and read through the remaining sections of the Amidah together. Others will instruct individuals to pray the rest of the Amidah individually—standing until one has completed the Amidah.
During the Torah service, we rise when the Torah is removed from the Ark, returned to the Ark, and when the Torah is raised for Hagbah and G’lilah. We sit for the Torah reading, in that it imitates Torah study in which a group might sit in a classroom or in a living room.
We stand for the Aleinu. The very words of this prayer tell us what to do: “va-anachnu (and we) korim (bend at the knees) u-mish-tachavim (and bow down)
u-modim (and give thanks), (we then raise ourselvs back up) lifnay melech mal’chay ha-m’lachim ha-kadosh barchu (before the King of Kings, the Holy One, Blessed be He).”
We also stand for the Kaddish Yatom, the Mourner’s Kaddish. Traditionally, only those who are in mourning or who are observing a yartzeit stand to recite this prayer. Many Reform Jews today stand in order to not single out the mourners, and to say Kaddish for those who do not have someone to say kaddish for them.
When praying, it is important to practice the postures that you feel most comfortable with. Try both traditional and non-traditional postures in order to decide which ones enhance your personal worship experience.
