[HANASHIR:12364] the kedusha shuffle

[erik contzius <contzius...>]

Regarding the Kedusha choreography, here's some more
specific answers all around:

(however, what's not included below is one other
point: the heels of one's feet should be together
during the amidah with toes out [standing at
attention] to improve kavanah--and it's the stance of
the angels. the quote "kadosh, kadosh, kadosh" is the
heavenly chorus calling out to one another, and going
up on one's toes is to emulate these angels)

? BAR?KHU
WHAT: Bowing
HOW: Hazzan bows at Bar?khu, straightens at Adonai;
Congregation bows at Barukh, straightens at Adonai
WHY: To bow before the King
? SHEMA
WHAT: Closing or covering your eyes with your right
hand.
WHY: To aid in kavannah?intention?so nothing will
distract us
? During the silent Amidah and Kaddish
WHAT: Placing both feet together
WHY: To aid in the concentration?kavannah; to be like
the angels (spiritual), who stand only on
one foot
? AMIDAH (the verse before the Amidah, ?Adonai
s?fatai??)
WHAT: approaching God
HOW: There are several customs: (a) to take 3 steps
forward or (b) to take 3 steps backwards
then 3 forward. Start on right foot.
WHY: To approach God (alone); begin with your right
foot??the normal one??to show your
eagerness.
? ?Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu ve?Elohei Avoteinu
v?Imoteinu??
WHAT: Bowing
HOW: Bend your knees at ?Barukh,? bend over from your
waist at ?atah,? straighten at ?Adonai.?
WHY: Symbolically to approach the King?God?as one
enters His presence.
? ??Magein Avraham v?ezrat Sarah.?
WHAT: Bowing
HOW: Same as above.
WHY: Same as above.
? KEDUSHAH ?Kadosh, Kadosh, Kadosh?? and ?Yimlokh??
WHAT: Rising on tiptoes.
HOW: Rise on your tiptoes three times (at each
?Kadosh?)
WHY: ?To fly on your feet? heavenward, symbolizing
reaching for holiness, breaking loose from
the bonds of earth.
? BIRKAT HODA?AH: ?Modim anakhnu lakh??
WHAT: Bowing
HOW: Bow forward from the waist at ?Modim,? then
straighten up at ?Adonai?
WHY: Same as for other bowing.
? ?Barukh atah Adonai hatov shimkha??
WHAT: Bowing
HOW: Bend your knees at ?Barukh,? bend over from your
waist at ?atah,? straighten at ?Adonai.?
WHY: Same as above.

? ?Oseh shalom bimromav??
WHAT: Taking leave of God.
HOW: Take 3 steps backward, beginning with the left
foot. At ?Shalom bimromav? incline your
head and shoulders to the right; at ?Hu ya?aseh
shalom? incline your head and
shoulders to the left; at ?Aleinu v?al kol Yisraeil?
incline your head and shoulders
forward; at ?V?im?ru Amen? stand upright.
WHY: To take leave of God; this is the reverse of the
approach to God: you step away facing the
ark, using your left foot to show reluctance; you then
bow in all directions (actually
only three) to acknowledge God?s presence everywhere
and as a final leave-taking.
? ALEINU: ?Va?anakhnu kor?im??
WHAT: acknowledging God?s Kingship over the world.
HOW: Bend knees at ?Va?anakhnu kor?im,? bow at
?U-mishtakhavim,?
and stand straight at ?U-modim.?
WHY: To bow before the King of the world as we say:
?We bend the knee and bow??
? KADDISH: ?Oseh shalom bimromav?
WHAT: taking leave of God
HOW: see directions for the same verse at the end of
the Amidah (Oseh shalom?).
WHY: To praise God and acknowledge His presence
throughout the whole world.

=====
Cantor Erik L. F. Contzius
New Rochelle, New York
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