The Appropriate Position for One’s Hands during Davening
The following are guidelines for appropriate and inappropriate hand gestures and positions during davening, most notably during Shmoneh Esrai:
As a general rule, one’s hands should be held in accordance with the local custom.
When clasping one’s hands together, the right hand should be placed over the left, not vice versa.
One’s hands should not be spread upward in supplication, since this can have a negative effect unless one is on a high spiritual level. Although this practice is Jewish in origin, it was abandoned once it was adopted by non-Jews.
Likewise, non-Jews commonly pray with their palms together, fingers pointed upward. Rabbeinu Bachye opines that although they're not aware of the reason for this practice, it indicates total submission, as though their hands are tied and powerless. He explains that it’s our custom to davka (specifically) place our feet together as though they are tied and immobile, which has more significance than the non-Jewish custom of immobile hands.
Poskim state that one’s hands should not be clasped together with fingers interlaced when davening during times of peace. The Arizal went further and taught that interlacing fingers call forth Divine judgment, and should therefore be avoided at all times.
There’s a Chabad tradition going back many generations, mentioned in the sichos (public talks) of the Previous Rebbe, that while saying Modeh Ani one’s hands should be put together, fingers outstretched, with one’s head bent forward.
There are also some general restrictions regarding positioning of hands that apply at all times:
According to sifrei Kabbalah (kabbalistic works), one’s hands should not be placed behind one’s back. Many gedolei Yisroel would alert people about this when necessary.
Based on the Gemara and poskim, it’s inappropriate for men to keep their hands in the pockets of their pants.
Lifting one’s hands above one’s head should only be done when necessary. #527โ 1
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