Monday, November 23, 2015

Linked Article: Swaying During Prayer and Torah Study by Daniel Adler

Swaying During Prayer and Torah Study

"It is a well established custom to sway (shukel) during prayer (teffilah) and Torah study.  The following questions will be addressed on this topic:
§     Is shukeling only for teffilah or is it also for learning Torah?
§     What are the reasons to shukel?
§     What are the reasons not to shukel?
§     Assuming one is permitted to shukel, what type of shukeling is allowed?
§     What is the practical Halacha? [1]
Is shukeling only for teffilah or is it also for Torah learning? 
The consensus of the majority of opinions is that one may (or perhaps should) shukel during Torah learning and all parts of prayer (with the possible exception being that of Shemoneh Esrei).  Concerning Torah learning, the commentators say the following:
Ba’al ha-turim, Ex. 20:15, on the verse, “the people saw and trembled” comments, “Therefore we sway during Torah learning (limud ha-Torah), since the Torah was given with fear, terror, and shaking (b-aimah, reses, and zeiah).”

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