# Rocking Rabbis **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 21, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649 "2006-08-21T20:42:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/1 "2006-08-21T20:42:33Z")
A recent tv report from the Lebanon-Isreali border showed, what is took to be a Rabbi rocking back and forth. Shots of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem also showed Rabbis and other rocking back and forth. Is this something that is done in connection with prayer or what? ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/2 "2006-08-21T20:44:16Z")
A recent tv report from the Lebanon-Isreali border showed, what I took to be a Rabbi rocking back and forth. Shots of the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem also showed Rabbis and other rocking back and forth. Is this something that is done in connection with prayer or what? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/3 "2006-08-21T20:56:56Z")
It’s not a rabbi thing, it’s a traditional method of Jewish prayer. I’m sure someone more observant than I will come along with a more detailed response. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/4 "2006-08-21T20:57:11Z")
When I [asked this question](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=330283&highlight=shuckeling) some time ago, I learned a new word: _[shuckeling](http://www.torahlearningcenter.com/jhq/question198.html)_: > [@](#): > > Question: Why is it when we pray to G-d, many people “shuckle” back and forth while others do not? Isn’t it disrespectful to sway back and forth when we are “talking” in our own way to G-d? Please explain this “custom.” Is it truly disrespectful or is it something else? > > Answer: ‘Shuckling’ - swaying back and forth during prayer and Torah study - is a legitimate custom. Several reasons are offered for this custom: > > The soul is akin to a flame. Just as a flame always flickers and strives upward, so too the soul is never still, constantly moving and striving to reach upward towards G-d. > > Shaking allows you to pray with your whole body, as King David said “Let all my bones exclaim ‘G-d, who is like You!’” When we stand before G-d in prayer, we tremble in awe of the King of Kings. > > The book of the Kuzari gives a historical explanation for ‘shuckling.’ He explains that shuckling originated during a period when there was a book shortage, and several people needed to study from the same book at the same time. To allow as many people as possible to study from one book, they would sway alternately back and forth. This allowed each person to look into the book and read a little bit, and when he swayed back, another person could sway forward and look into the book. > > A valid alternative to shuckling is to stand completely still, like a soldier standing at attention in front of the king. > > Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, zatzal/ of blessed memory, one of the foremost halachic authorities of our generation, was known to stand stock still during the silent prayer. He explained that, while living in Russia, he was once arrested for teaching Torah. One form of torture he experienced during his imprisonment was being forced to stand completely still facing a wall. The threat was that if he were to move he would be shot. It was on one of these occasions that Rabbi Feinstein was struck with the realization that if he could stand with such intense concentration for the sake of his captors, then he should afford at least the same respect when standing in front of G-d. > > Deciding whether to ‘shuckle’ or stand still depends on which one helps you concentrate better. In any case, a person shouldn’t move his body or contort his face in any way that will make him look weird. > > Sources: Mishna Berurah 95:5,7 ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/5 "2006-08-21T20:58:46Z")
Jews often rock rhythmically when praying. It’s easier to concentrate on prayer when you’re letting your body move (in a natural manner, not like dancing or anything) than if you’re expending mental energy to remain stock-still. And even at points in prayer when we’re supposed to be standing still, there’s no prohibition against swaying in place. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/6 "2006-08-21T21:58:15Z")
Merged duplicate, low post count threads. [/Moderating] ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/7 "2006-08-21T22:25:30Z")
Thanks for the enlightment all the way around. spingears ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/8 "2006-08-22T05:42:20Z")
I’m a fan of Judaica, dunno why, but I’ve never heard the word schuckling, only davening. But then, I mostly study Hasids and Chaim Potok, so maybe there’s a difference? ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/9 "2006-08-22T08:43:11Z")
Minor nitpick - just because someone’s wearing the jacket and hat, that doesn’t automatically make him a Rabbi. The black-and-white is common dress throughout the various ultra-orthodox communities, of which the majority of members are not ordained rabbis. It’s a common goyische mistake. ---
**Author:** ![Zahava424](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/76d3ee/32.png) [@Zahava424](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zahava424)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/10 "2006-08-22T16:07:36Z")
> [@Nawth Chucka](#): > > I’m a fan of Judaica, dunno why, but I’ve never heard the word schuckling, only davening. But then, I mostly study Hasids and Chaim Potok, so maybe there’s a difference? “Davening” just means praying. “Shuckling” specifically refers to the way people sway or rock back and forth _while_ davening. But it’s not just a Hasidic thing. You’ll see many types of Jews shuckling while davening. I had to daven while on a train yesterday, and the guy in the seat across the aisle from me obviously thought I was deranged. He kept looking at me nervously, like I was putting a curse on him and then got up and found another spot. Now, if you want to see something really interesting, watch a group of [Breslover Hasidim](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Breslov_Chassidus) praying. It’s common practice for them to clap while davening in order to get really into it. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/11 "2006-08-22T19:12:50Z")
Man, just when I got “Rockin’ Robin” out of my head, here comes this thread title. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2006, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/12 "2006-08-22T19:50:31Z")
> [@Zahava424](#): > > “Davening” just means praying. I had to daven while on a train yesterday, and the guy in the seat across the aisle from me obviously thought I was deranged. He kept looking at me nervously,then got up and found another spot. umm…did it perhaps occur to you that it would have been polite to explain to the guy on the train what you were doing? He’s in a confined space with you, and you’re acting pretty weird (from his point of view). Does praying make you feel more spiritually uplifted if you scare other people? Wouldn’t a smile and a simple 2-sentence explanation be a good way to set the mood for your praying? ---
**Author:** ![Nawth\_Chucka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nawth\_Chucka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nawth_Chucka)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/13 "2006-08-23T11:36:25Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > umm…did it perhaps occur to you that it would have been polite to explain to the guy on the train what you were doing? He’s in a confined space with you, and you’re acting pretty weird (from his point of view). > Does praying make you feel more spiritually uplifted if you scare other people? Wouldn’t a smile and a simple 2-sentence explanation be a good way to set the mood for your praying? Should people saying grace aloud in a restaurant apologize or warn other diners who might be taken off guard as well? Or only if you’re not praying in English or the local language? It’s pretty unkind to imply that the poster felt “more spiritually uplifted if (they) scare other people”; the person who left was ignorant and could have eased his mind by simply asking a question. The person praying feels they will ultimately have to answer to a higher power than the people in their physical proximity. My pointy question to \*\*Zahava \*\* is this-isn’t their an OT proscription _against_ praying in public, so as to avoid any appearance of ‘showing off’, as it were? Something about it being better that you should pray in a closet than on a street corner? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/14 "2006-08-23T13:22:06Z")
> [@Nawth Chucka](#): > > Should people saying grace aloud in a restaurant apologize or warn other diners who might be taken off guard as well? He didn’t say to apologize or to refrain, merely explain. It’s part of common courtesy. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/15 "2006-08-23T13:33:22Z")
I can’t help it. No disrespect, or anything, but when I see the thread title I hear the voice of MST3K’s _Crow T. Robot_, going: \*Rockin’ rabbis! Caw – caw – caw Rockin’ rabbis Caw – caw – caw \* ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/16 "2006-08-23T16:56:36Z")
> [@Nawth Chucka](#): > > My pointy question to \*\*Zahava \*\* is this-isn’t their an OT proscription _against_ praying in public, so as to avoid any appearance of ‘showing off’, as it were? Something about it being better that you should pray in a closet than on a street corner? There’s a proscription in the NT about showing off while praying in public, e.g., the rich Pharisees who would have trumpets blown to call attention to their prayers and donations. Praying silently in public isn’t quite the same thing. And praying in the company of other faithful isn’t the same thing. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2006, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/rocking-rabbis/369649/17 "2006-08-23T17:19:13Z")
> [@gigi](#): > > Praying silently in public isn’t quite the same thing. yes, but praying in a crowded train isn’t just “praying silently”. You said in your own words that you appeared “deranged”. So, even without any blowing of horns , you were calling attention to yourself in a fairly blatent way–so flamboyently that the poor guy moved away from you in fear. A simple smile and a word of explanation would have been appropriate. Ritual is important–but not more important than basic courtesy.