[HANASHIR:3261] Re: high holidays

[Andy Curry <acurry...>]

Dear Susan,

The correct time to prostrate oneself completely is whenever the minhag -
or Yirat Hashem - dictates...and "a minhag brecht a din."

The time of which you are speaking is the "Great Alenu" of the N'ila
(concluding) service, when the gates are closing.

The other time when some congregations also bow to the floor is during the
Great Alenu of the Malchuyot of Rosh Hashana.  The Alenu was originally
written for this service; only later was it also incorporated into other
services.  

"Va-anachnu korim umishtachavim umodim lifney Melech malchey hamlachim" -
we bend the knee and prostrate ourselves and acknowledge the King who rules
over kings."  What a powerful thing to say, and more importantly, to do! 

It's too bad that the action is limited to the rabbi and cantor; in
non-Reform tradition, the congregation also participates, although it's
pretty tough if you aren't in the front row or on the aisle.

It's my thought that if one has devoted him/herself properly to the Yamim
Noraim, prostration feels quite natural.  The Rosh Hashana prostration, on
the other hand,  has more of a "getting ready" kavana.

At 10:30 PM 6/17/99 -0700, you wrote:
>On Yom Kippur, there is an Aleinu where the cantor (or cantorial
>soloist) and rabbi lie face down.  Our temple does it during the last
>Aleinu in the concluding service on page 522 of Gates of Repentance.
>Our rabbi, who was new to our congregation last high holidays, says that
>other congregations do it at other times.  He asked me to ask you all
>(I'm always bragging about this great list) if anyone knows the correct
>place to do it.  I am also wondering why it's done.  This isn't really a
>music question so I hope it's o.k. to pose it here...
>Susan Schanerman
>
>
>
>

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Andy Curry
CellNet Data Systems
Kansas City MO 64106
Office: 816-545-7739 (direct)
or 1-800-697-7044 ext 7739
Pager: 816-889-0634
Home : 816-363-8381
E-Mail: acurry (at) cellnet(dot)com
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