JACS Spirituality Pages

JACS: Jewish Alcoholics, Chemically Dependent Persons, and Significant Others

JACS SPIRITUALITY PAGES

When I came to AA and people suggested praying on my knees I said, "Jews don't do that." Eventually I learned to do it. Some years later I saw a medieval Haggadah at HUC illuminated with images of Jews praying on their knees. Then I realized that we used to pray on our knees until it became a Christian thing, at which point we stopped doing it. Now that I belong to a Conservative congregation I have experienced the Musaf Service on the High Holy Days. Today, thanks to an article on Mincha in the United Synagogue

Review, I have discovered the following passage from the Book of Daniel:

Daniel 6, JPS 1917

"10 (6:11) And when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house--now his windows were open in his upper chamber toward Jerusalem--and he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime."

I share it with you in hope that it may help someone.

-Holly R., Cincinnati