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.