Our posture in prayer reminds us that we're akin to angels
One of the sweetest stages of toddlerhood occurs when a child begins to mimic his surroundings. I have countless pictures and videos of miniature offspring sporting snoods and hats, shouldering backpacks double their size, and working
diligently at the computer. Yet there are few expressions of mimicry more adorable than an 18-month-old clutching a book, swaying and bowing in an exaggerated impression of Shemoneh Esreh.
In truth, he’s right on the mark; our posture during Shemoneh Esreh is one of the most iconic features of this tefillah. What is the correct posture for Shemoneh Esreh in general? And why do we bow?
“Rabi Shmalai teaches, what is a fetus in utero akin to? A folded sheaf of papers; his hands rest on his feet, his elbows on his knees, ankles on his shoulders, and his head rests between his knees” (Maseches Niddah 30b).
For the pre-sonography era of the Gemara, this is an incredibly precise depiction of a baby in utero. It’s also an accurate description of our posture when we bow.
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