Cyberthought by Rabbi Zelizer -- August 4, 2008
Frequent questions to the Rabbi about Judaism. His answers will be appearing as Cyberthoughts over time.
Question # 5
Q. Why do we stand for some prayers and not others? What of the Shma? Is either sitting or standing the correct way?
- We stand for some prayers in order to mark those prayers as more significant than other prayers in the ritual. That is why we stand for the Amidah; or the Mourners Kaddish; etc.
- There is great variance in practices of when one stands and when one sits for a prayer. Some stand for kaddish readers before Barchu, some don't.
In the case of the Shma in our congregation, the law states that "Minhag Hamakom Halachah" one follows the local custom of the synagogue as if it were the law. The local custom of Congregation Neve Shalom is to stand for the Shmah. That official custom extends back into the 1950's, at least, even though laity may see different customs at other shuls. So, for example, when I Daven in other synagogues, and the custom is to sit, I too sit. But our synagogue sanctioned custom remains to stand for the Shmah.