When I pray
I sway.
Why? you may say.
I sway.
Why? you may say.
The Yiddish word: shuckle.
Is there a Hebrew equivalent?
It’s how I saw people praying growing up.
I don’t know another way.
I’ve tried to stop.
Can’t.
It happens by itself.
Side-to-side.
Forth/back.
Sometimes, the emotion of my words gets into my body and takes over.
Or, I’m thinking about my grocery list (oy!).
Then, the sway/pray wakes me up.
Shake! Awake!
Think about where you are. (Not Heinen’s.)
Are you not ashamed
to be swaying
like a saint
when your mind
grows faint?
Close your eyes.
Sway. Be silent. Let your body remind your heart.
To listen.
Take part.
Engage.
Be on the same page.
Be one:
Words. Mind. Heart. Body.
Sway, and pray.
Or: pray, and sway.
Either way.
LOVE this, Ruchi! LOVE it 🙂
Love it!
🙂 Thank you so much!
One of the reasons for why we sway when we pray is because it is said that our neshama ( soul ) is compared to a flame, and a flame is always moving around. When we pray, we are connecting with our soul…hence the swaying….
That is beautiful – I never heard that.
I can't remember for sure where I read it, but I think it's from Rigshei Lev, By Rabbi Nissel, but not 100% sure.
i love this…
thanks!
the source for that is in the Book of Tanya
The source for that is in the Book of Tanya
כל עצמותי תאמרנה ה' מי כמוך
Translation: All My limbs will say: G-d, who is like you?
Psalms 35:10
When we 'shuckle', we accomplish this by involving all of our limbs in our prayer.
Absolutely beautiful writing
Great info/source. Thanks!
Poetry on a Jewish blog! My life is complete.
Recent neurological studies have shown that moving when learning increases retention. So shuckling is good for the brain as well!