Three Steps

Q: Why is the short phrase the precedes the Amida is small print?

A:  The short answer to that it is in small print because it is supposed to be said quietly, to oneself.

Notice that unlike most prayers in the siddur, this one is in the singular, “open my lips….my mouth…”.  In general our prayers are crafted for communal worship (think how often the prayers read, ‘our God’, ‘our fathers’, ‘our prayers’…”

So why does this personal prayer act as a prelude to the Amida?  We always stand for the Amida (in fact, the word Amida means “standing”).  Traditionally, Jews will face the Ark (or east if they are not in a synagogue) and take a few tentative steps toward it.

In days gone by it was the custom that when one appeared before a king one would take three hesitant steps towards him, bow and then state why he had come.  In the same way, as we depict God as a King of Kings, we approach God by taking three steps forward to address Him.

Why then does this line consist of six words?

Think of a synagogue.  There are lots of people, benches, rows, pews and books.  You stand for the Amida.  Can you move forward three steps?  No, there is not enough room.  So with the first three words you step backward and then move forward with the next three, symbolically entering into the Presence of the King.

A Vacation Blessing

Q: What is the proper blessing for a summer vacation?

A: Heavenly Father, look down up me, your humble and obedient tourist servant who is determined to travel Your earth, taking photographs, sending text messages, skyping and helping the local economy by buying souvenirs.  We ask You that our plane take off on time, suffer no mishaps and land when and where our ticket says.  May our luggage not be lost, weigh too much or arrive damaged.

Give us this day Divine guidance in our selection of destination and hotels.  We pray that our sim card works and that we can connect with our loved ones while away.  Lead us to inexpensive restaurants where the food is good, wine is included in the price of the meal and may we eat no trafe foods.  Give us the wisdom to tip correctly in currency that we do not understand.

May the natives appreciate us for who we are and not for what we can contribute to their pockets.

Grant us the strength to visit museums, places of historic interest and palaces.  And if we skip an ancient monument to take a nap after lunch have mercy, for our flesh is weak.

Protect our spouse from bargains they do not need or cannot afford.  Lead them not into temptation for they know not what they do.  Keep our men from looking at foreign women and comparing them to us.  Save them from making fools of themselves in nightclubs.

And when our holiday is over grant us the favor of patient friends who will actually want to hear our stories and look at our pictures so that our lives as tourists will not be in vain. Amen