Question about Jewish tradition...

[BillynJennifer]

Can someone shed some light on the reason that the ones who are praying at the wailing wall seem to accompany their prayers with a pronounced rocking motion of their bodies? I've seen this on TV many, many times, but I have never understood why they do it. Is it just a means of keeping a sort of cadence with the prayer, or what?

Billy

[Torah]

Bowing

Judaism has a special procedure for bowing during prayer: first you bend the knees, then you bend forward while straightening the knees, then you stand up. See the animation at right.
Bowing is done several times during the service:

During the Aleinu prayer, when we say "v'anakhnu korim u'mishtachavim u'modim" (which quite literally means, "so we bend knee and bow and give thanks").
Four times during the Shemoneh Esrei (at "Blessed art Thou, L-rd" in the beginning of the first blessing; at "Blessed art Thou, L-rd" at the end of the first blessing; at "We gratefully thank You" at the beginning of the Modim blessing and at "Blessed art Thou, L-rd" at the end of the Modim blessing). There is also a special bow during the Oseh Shalom blessing: at "He who makes peace in his heights," bow to the left; at "may he make peace," bow to the right; at "upon us and upon all Israel" bow forward.
After P'sukei d'Zimra but before the Shema's blessings, the leader recites the Borchu blessing, during which he bows. The congregation responds with "Barukh Adoshem hamevorakh l'olam va-ed" and bows.
During Torah (http://www.jewfaq.org/defs/torah.htm) readings, when a person recites a blessing over the Torah, this same Borchu and it's congregational response are recited, with the same bowing. Often, the bow here is less obvious: seated congregants just sort of lean forward out of their chairs. If you would like to know more.
http://www.jewfaq.org/liturgy.htm (http://www.jewfaq.org/liturgy.htm)
Shalom

[onlinealice]

Thanks for that explanation. Recently one of the synagogue "readers" began "bowing" while reading of the "prayer book". I had no idea what I was supposed to do!

[Wags]

Psalms 108:1-5 1 My heart is confident, God; I will sing; I will sing praises with the whole of my being

[shmuel]

I don't believe that the questioner is referring to this formal bowing at prescribed points in the liturgy, but rather to the rocking motion during davening (prayer) called shukling. It purpose is to focus the mind to obtain kavanah, the right intent during prayer.

[BillynJennifer]

I don't believe that the questioner is referring to this formal bowing at prescribed points in the liturgy, but rather to the rocking motion during davening (prayer) called shukling. It purpose is to focus the mind to obtain kavanah, the right intent during prayer.

Yes, that is what I was referring to. Are the "prayers" making this rocking motion, then, to keep their mind on their prayer? I guess that would make sense.

I'm going to look up and try to do a bit of research on that word, kavanah. It seems to me, to be the correct way to pray.

Billy

[Amora]

yes, i also thnk he was refering to "shukling"

just wanted to point out, that its also a way to keep ones balance, while concentrating, as shmuel said. people usualy shukle when praying the "Amidah", because thats when one needs to keep one's feet together.

Try to stand with your feet together for 2-10 minuts stright and you too will begin to sway back and forth :)

[HaNotsri]

Kavanah is something that means more than concentration. It's being in the right mindset, heart, and spiritual place when in a time of devotion, learning, or prayer. It's a beautiful word.

[simchat_torah]

The rocking motion is not the same as the formal bowing during the liturgy. There are two reasons for the "rocking" motion, one of which was accurately described by shmuel. The second is a specific type of prayer to bring one into kavanah. One will rock back and forth on their toes simply saying "Kadosh Kadosh Kadosh" (holy holy holy). This specific prayer is known as the Kadosha (or if you look it up in a Siddur it might be referred to loosely as "speaking in the tongues of men and angels"). The Kadosha is a very holy prayer that focuses your mind on HaShem's holiness and let's everything else settle, bringing about a state of Kavannah.


-Yafet