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Tue, 07 Sep 2010  |  28 Elul 5770        
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Do you Sway When you Pray?

25/06/2010

Dear Rabbi Simon, I am often on a train to see clients outside of London and can use the time for davening. There can be some difficulty with standing up on crowded trains, or even on quieter, less crowded ones where it may just look strange or not feel comfortable. Is it permitted to recite those prayers that should be said standing, while sitting? If so, how would one recite the Amida? Darren


25/06/2010
Dear Darren,

Thank you for your question.

As its name implies, the 'Amidah prayer should be said standing, in a posture reflecting the respect appropriate for an audience with the King.

BTW, we stand with our feet together to emulate the angels, who are described as having a single foot, and who symbolically only face one direction, i.e. towards Hashem. As humans we have two feet, symbolising the fact that we can turn away from G-d too, i.e. we have untrammelled free will. But during the few minutes of prayer we try to focus only on our relationship with Hashem, as the angels do. Hence we stand facing the Land of Israel, with our feet together.

But what if standing is impractical, or will leave you susceptible to being interrupted, or result in such self-consciousness and distraction that you cannot concentrate? If your only time to pray is when you are on the train (or plane, or bus, etc.) then you may recite the 'Amidah even sitting down, if need be. Keep you feet together and bow, etc, in the appropriate places as best you can. (How you will take three steps backwards once you are finished, I can't quite work out.) Again, one should rely on this only when it is impractical to stand in the preferred manner. (This applies particularly to the 'Amidah. Other prayers for which we normally stand, such as "Aleinu" may be recited sitting down if it is inconvenient to stand.)

Hope all your prayers are answered.

Best wishes
rs

 
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