Motioning during Davening

Moving or Gesturing during the Amidah

 

When reciting Shemone Esrei (the Amidah prayer) one may not move their feet, motion with their finger, nod their head, nor make any other gesture. However, there are some exceptions: 1) If a child is crying or making noise, one may motion to them to stop so as not to disturb other people in their davening. If motioning does not help, there are poskim who say that one may even say “Nu!”, “Sh!”, or “Sha!”—but one may not say any other words. In case a child is crying, and gesturing or saying “Nu!” does not quiet them, one is permitted to walk the child out of shul. They should return afterwards to their original place and finish davening Shemone Esrei. (One may not hold a child in one’s arms during Shemone Esrei—nor anything of value other than a siddur—because the possibility of dropping the child or the item disturbs one’s kavanah (concentration). 2) If a sefer (holy book) falls on the floor, and leaving it there disturbs one’s kavanah, they may pick it up, even if they have to leave their place in order to do so; after picking up the sefer, they should return to their original place and finish davening Shemone Esrei. 3) If a person has forgotten to turn off their cell phone (it should be turned off before one begins to daven unless they are a medical professional), and it starts ringing or vibrating, which is disturbing, they are allowed to shut it off. 4) If a Rav has not finished reciting Shemone Esrei and his kavanah is disturbed because the Baal Tefillah (the Chazzan) is waiting for him in order to begin Chazaras HaShatz, he may motion to the Chazzan to proceed; he may even take three steps back to have everyone think that he is finished, and then go back to his original place to finish the Amidah. #350?1

https://halacha2go.com?number=350

Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.