Jewish Prostration in Talmudic Law

[Nadnetuk1]

A good Jew is like a Good Muslim, or christain. As a Muslim i just want peace for the Palestine. 1 life is equal. Real Jew Support the Palestines. Please As a really muslim, Me We muslim believe Jew and christains are like next of kins of family. Like brothers and sisters to Muslims. qouted in the Quran. Mean we are one kind of religious. Muslim believe in a extra prophet.

[omedyashar]

@birmington Where's your reply? You've had a year. Interesting, I never get a reply when I ask for this claim to be backed up. The closest thing I've gotten to an answer is a relatively recent poseq who forbad lowering one's head lower than one's waste, but 1) he's recent & has no authority to over-rule ALL Talmudic opinions 2) not universally accepted (even most Ashkenazim don't follow him as their halakhic authority) 3) he's obviously not heeded on Yom Kippur and Rosh ha-Shana 4) no precedent

[watchthemoviefitna]

Amazing isn't it? I prayed this way for so many years as a Muslim. Seeing this video seems so disrespectful to Islam. Yet, the Islam wants Yahoodim destroyed, doesn't it?

[omedyashar]

@watchthemoviefitna

How could this video be considered disrespectful to Islam?

[MrShashal]

Salams my Israeli brother!

I have prayed to Allah, that I may find among the Jews, one that is like you. The verse that I posted earlier seems to describe you & those who are still keeping the ancient Covenant that was made by the earlier Israeli Prophets. May Allah bless you & those among Bani Israel that still loves Him. I believe, He loves you much more than how we may love you brother. I extend my hand to you in friendship for the sake of Allah Almighty, our Creator & Lord of all mankind.

[rayoflightcanada]

god bless you omedyashar such a true light seeker, but probably they will not like what u searched and discovered as they want to lead astray the jewish people and told them not a requirement any more since our temple is destroyed

[omedyashar]

Thanks for commenting.

What is it exactly that you think I totally misunderstand? Please be specific.

I gave my sources. What is YOUR source for claiming that we're not allowed to prostrate until there is a Temple?

Apparently millions of religious Jews seem to think that this supposed law doesn't apply on Rosh ha-Shana or Yom ha-Kipurim.

Looking forward to your reply.

[0Idskool]

Salam, mind sharing your feeling towards seeing Muslims following these laws to the letter I mean you do, I think some Coptic Christians continue to. But all of us ( Well ones that do pray anyway) Lol continued it still. Peace

[ladyluv327]

there are Jews that still pray prostrated but we all don't do it, I don't understand why... it is the proper way

[flamingozita]

omg .. i never knew that our jewish cousins pray the way we muslims do .. i have never seen a sijada (praying carpet) other than our own.. and 6:13 is just exactly how my dad reads koran.. legs crossed and the carpet.. with the thing underneath the book.. amazing ..

[tudungsenduk]

Jews and christians dont do this anymore. Only muslims do this.

[dakotanorthe]

Incorrect Karaite Jews do this and so do the Beta Israel from Ethiopia thry are true Jews being the Lost Tribe of Dan

[Rossdhu16]

It is also done at High Holidays by the Rabbis. Even in Reconstructionist, Renewal and Conservative Congregations. We used to genuflex too.

[omedyashar]

...and even Orthodox Jews who practice strictly according to the Talmudic law as codified in Mishne Torah also still bow and prostrate.

[indifferentcanadian]

What do you say during prostration?

[omedyashar]

There are different traditions as to what is said, but the halakha [the ruling of the Great Sanhedrin] is that one says supplications according to his desire -- whatever's on your mind, your heart's cry.

The 19 blessings constituting the "Amida" standing prayer which proceeds prostration prepares you for prostration, and certainly things will come to your mind during the "Amida" about to supplicate.

I usually say verses related to how I feel, and requests in English :D

[pianokid100]

i dont get it, so are you saying that its good or bad to pray by prostrating on the floor ?

[omedyashar]

It's good - so long as one is worshipping the Incorporeal Singular Creator alone, and isn't pressing his face to stone.  Prostration is a historical Jewish practice.

[dovidmordachai]

I just want to say how much I enjoy Hebrew being said using the old Teimani pronunciation.

[wowheed]

Hiya i find your vids very informative and rewarding,lucky you that you are now doing the will of the creator however,is there a prayer for noahides? a siddur perhaps?

[omedyashar]

Noahides are not obligated to say any particular formalized form of prayer; however, if you so desire, you may voluntarily pray the prayers that Israelites are obligated to pray, such as the "Amida" / "Shemona Esre." If this prayer is too long for you, there is a shorter form you can pray. You can find it translated on Youtube as "Short Version of Daily Jewish Prayer." They also recently came out with a Noahide sidur which you can draw from, but it is NOT obligatory upon Noahides.

[lightbearer78]

the prayers of the early israelites is similar was very similar to that of the muslims of today, the "hands on chest", "Ruku-bowing" & "Sujud-prostration". many of this is described in the Qur'an for example mention of David(Dawud) bowing to God in repentance...

[gbjew]

Prostration is for men and women or men only?

[omedyashar]

Sorry for the lack of clarity. First of all, so long as the halakha does not prohibit women from doing the particular action, and a woman is able to do it, then she is permitted to do it voluntarily; but she should make sure that she is already careful to do those commandments which is already obligated in.

[gbjew]

**short sigh of relief** secondly, you do this every day? I've done it in times of duress, when I needed the strength or courage for a specific task, or as a sign of gratitude on recieving the answer to such a prayer; but not on a daily basis.

[omedyashar]

We are OBLIGATED to do this daily. It is not something I voluntarily do every day -- nor is it something I've just made up. MOST of my clips are not merely my opinions -- they are just me presenting little known information based upon Talmudic law.

Though I do this daily because I'm obligated to, of course I also enjoy doing so, lol. It GREATLY enhances my concentration and sense of being in the Almighty's "presence."

[gbjew]

I'm not in opposition to doing so daily; I just didn't know that was required. Like I said, I've done it on occassion; and ur right, it is very helpful in bringing awareness of the Almighty.

=D ok so I guess I'll make it a daily practice.

[omedyashar]

Kol haKavod. Just be ready if anyone catches you doing so -- there are plenty of references you can gather, but the Talmudic references and the references in the Mishneh Torah are most important if you ask me. You can find several other references I've posted to the "discussion" board of Tachanun article on Wikipedia, or on my website. But for the brainwashed Jews among us, no amount of Talmudic or historical support will be good enough. Just don't get into trouble :P

[gbjew]

Don't worry I'm pretty good with explaining my way out of trouble lol. This is the little girl who hid for 9 months that she was secretly studying Judaism, remember. After all that I went through with that mess, I don't care what fellow Jews have to say about how I pray. I don't think I'll have any trouble, anyhow...if I do I'll send them to u ok? lolz

[omedyashar]

And remember -- we're forbidden from pressing our face to stone, so keeping a folded piece of paper in your pocket/purse could come in handy, lol. It does for me. Sometimes I even use my Israeli ID card, lol.

[gbjew]

lolz most everything is carpeted here but ok will keep in mind.

[omedyashar]

Great:) Borukh HaShem! Bo'u nishtahhawa w-nikhra'a w-nivrakha lifne Y/H/W/H Aloheinu!

[mjay22]

this is something that muslims still include in their daily prayers, and i don't know why many or most jews don't practise this prayer form anyway. it has basically been changed to sitting on bench and singing hymns like the christians. are there still jews that prostrate in prayer at the wailing wall?

[omedyashar]

There are still Jews that prostrate in prayer at the wailing wall, but not so many. However, during the holy days of Yom haKipurim and Rosh haShana, almost all Orthodox Jews prostrate in prayer.

ALL Orthodox Jews hold that we are obligated to prostrate when worshiping the Creator on the Temple Mount, but the Muslim and secular-Israeli authorities forbid us from doing so.

[breeeegs]

How can they forbid you from prostrating? Is there a law against bowing down? I am an observant Jew, and I have been to the Kotel, but I was never aware of such a thing. It is very distressing to hear

[omedyashar]

There is no basis for prostrating, so long as one does it as an act of worship to the Singular Creator ALONE, and if he is an Israelite, he can not press his face to stone while doing so... but the Temple Area is the one place we're allowed to bow on stone. I imagine they forbid it over international security concerns.

They forbid it on the Temple Mount; the Kothel is NOT the Temple Mount. Non-Muslim Jews are forbidden to worship on the Temple Mount... at the Kothel they permit it.

[omedyashar]

* "...no basis for NOT prostrating,..."

[omedyashar]

Both men and women are obligated to prostrate in prayer. The halakha makes no distinction whatsoever between men and women in this matter. Keep in mind what appears at 1 min 30 seconds: Not prostrating does not prevent you from praying if you are pressured or forced -- but otherwise you "need to be careful about [it], to do [it]."

Most Jews know NOTHING about this; If a rabbi does know about it, chances are he'll think popular custom outweighs Talmudic law. This is the case with many laws.

[omedyashar]

Just for the assurance's sake - there are TONS of references, both among Talmudic and Geonic texts, among the writings of the Rishonim and early Ahharonim, and even later eye-witness reports and rabbincal commentary, which supports the fact that this was the WIDESPREAD MAINSTREAM practice until only a few hundred years ago. It continued to be mainstream in certain countries even 100 years ago. I plan on eventually make a clip listing several more sources. This clip gives the essential sources.

[maquesic]

but when do u prostrate? is it in the Amida prayer time or any other and at which parts. in other words when do u do it and how many times and at what stage?

[omedyashar]

Berakhoth 34b in the Talmud states where you do the "bending-down" in the Shemoneh Esreh. The law appears in the Mishneh Torah in Hilkoth Tefila 5:11 [10]. You do at "borukh" in the beginning and at the end of the first blessing. You do so at the beginning of "Modim" and at borukh at the end of this blessing, and you do so at the very end of the "Sim Shalom" blessing - 5 "bending-down"s (k:ria) in the Shemoneh Esreh. Upon lifting your head from the 5th bow, you sit on the floor and prostrate.

[omedyashar]

At 2 mins and 7 seconds in the clip, it explains where you prostrate:

"After one lifts his head from the fifth act of bending down, he should then sit on the ground and fall upon his face on the ground..."

[omedyashar]

This is based on Megilla 22b.

All praise and supplications of our heart be to the ALL-TRANSCENDENT-ONE alone, to whom no factors of time, space, change apply.

[SefaradiTal]

extra note: nefilat panim is done by the temanim :)

kudos for posting this!

[omedyashar]

"...I would love to prostrate , but due to my disability I cannot currently. I was wondering if there is anything that touches on such a "predicament" and what would do? Anyways, great video bro. Glad to see you're still kicking them out when you can."

[omedyashar]

The answer is given in the Talmud, in Mesekhet [Tractate] Berakhoth 28b.

There it says that someone who is unable to kneel should bow his head as he can. If he is not able to do this, it is still not a problem, as we find in Hilkhoth Tefillah (Laws of Prayer) chapter 5 law 1 -- that ""if one is pressured, or forced, or transgressed.." it does not prevent the prayer from being acceptable (meaning he doesn't have to repeat the prayer). Clearly in your situation you are forced. No problem.

[omedyashar]

Bowing and prostrating are only expressions of what should already be true in our hearts. It is also the case that these actions can inspire us to greater humility -- but it is all according to the physical ability of the person. If all you can do is bow your head, or bend at your waist, this is equally meaningful. All of these things are really for us - to draw closer to the Almighty. You know that the Almighty does not actually "need" anything we do. Exalted is He above every need.

[Felipe19]

You can also sit down on a chair and do the movements without touching the ground. Just prostate in a manner that fits you without hurting you while praying. A lot of old people and disabled people do this too.

You can also ask a local Imam! :)

[omedyashar]

What's happened today is that the majority of Jews have taken this and applied it to healthy people, to everyone. Now, of course, most Jews no longer know that they should be going all the way to the ground if they can. This is why it's so important to do personal research, and not assume that your Imam or Rabbi is free from error. In Torah, only ONE is immune to error - the Incomparable One; He is not a man, nor does He change. Sheva7 l-Eloah Ya3aqov.

[omedyashar]

"Does the Talmud explain why one cannot prostrate on a stone?"

[omedyashar]

The prohibition against prostrating with arms and legs spread flat on stone, with the face pressed onto the stone at the same time, is one of the 613 miswoth (commandments). So the prohibition is from the Torah. One of the reasons given is that the idolaters used to specifically prostrate on stone to their idolatry; So the prohibition distances us from looking similar to this practice.

[omedyashar]

So, if one bows down with his face pressed to stone while praying, but does NOT spread his body out flat, he does NOT violate one of the 613 miswoth; rather, he only violates a Rabbinic "fence" decreed by the Great Court, which was issued so as to distance us from violating the commandment. Many of the decrees of this Court are to distance us from coming too close to violating commands.

If one tilts his face while prostrating on stone, neither the Torah nor Talmudic laws would be violated.

[omedyashar]

Rabeinu Avraham ben haRambam (the son of Rambam) writes in his book "haMaspiq l-Ovdei haShem" [katab kfayyeh al-3abadin (originally Arabic)]

that one who bows while kneeling (WITHOUT and feet spread out flat) does not even violate the Talmudic "fence" decreed by the Great Court if he only touches his forehead to stone. In this case, having one's face touch pressed to stone refers to pressing more than the forehead to stone - the forehead PLUS the nose (unless one has a really small nose, lol).