[HANASHIR:3260] Aleinu and Prostration

[HazzAnne <HazzAnne...>]

Susan and all - Here are a coupld of sources. I believe that the Aleinu is 
all that's left in GOR. the Avodah is long gone.

The brief description is on pages 40-41, To Pray as a Jew by Rabbi Donin. 
Short answer is During the Aleinu on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur (that's 
twice) and during the Avodah (description of Temple Service - that's three 
more times) on Yom Kippur.

According to Macy Nulman's "Encyclopedia of Jewish Prayer" . . . (under the 
Aleinu entry)

On Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur the congregation recites Aleinu during the 
repetition of the Musaf Amidah in an undertone together with the Hazzan. At 
the phrase va'anachnu kore'im umishtachavim, the entire congregation in the 
Ashkenazic rite kneels down to the ground and falls prostrate. Generally, it 
is the custom to kneel upon the knees with the face touching the floor when 
falling Kore'im both in Aleinu and Avodah. However, the Gaon of Vilna, 
hishtachava'eh means "spreading out of hands and feet," - that is - 
prostration of the whole body as designated in the Talmud (Shebu. 16b). The 
reason that this is not commonly practiced today in the synagogue is because 
of the lack of space. However, if there is ample room, one should prostrate 
oneself whil spreading out hands and feed. The reason that the practice of 
kneeling was abolished during the service of the entire year was that it 
became part of the worship of non-Jews (hukot hagoyim). It was retained for 
the High Hooy Days as exemplary of the Temple Service, and according to 
Maharil, falling kore'im takes place only at times designated by;the sages. 
Sepharic custom is not to kneel during the Aleinu. The sheli'ach tzibbur 
loers his head on the prayer desk on Yom Kippur at the prayer V'hakohanim.

The ark is opened at Aleinu on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in order to 
emphasie the importance of prayer so that it be recited the entire year with 
devotion. The ark is closed at shelo som chelkaynu kahem and reopened at 
va'anachnu kore'im. Because it was the ritual of heathen cults to worship 
stone floors, the rabbis decreed that all synagogue floors be comvered when 
kneeling.

Hope this helps.  Anne



Cantor Anne Heath
Congregation Kol Am
St. Louis, MO


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