AMIDAH
dcinr AMIDAH f 339–344
Rab Judah said: People should never introduce a petition for their own needs either in the first three or last three blessings of the Amidah , but only in the middle [thirteen daily] blessings. Rabbi Hanina said: In the first three we are like a servant who is addressing praises to his master; in the middle ones we are like a servant who is requesting a gift from his master; in the last ones we are like a servant who has received a gift from his master and takes his leave and departs ( Berachot 34a) . On Shabbat we withhold our petitions, as if giving God a rest, and replace the thirteen middle blessings of the weekdaywith one in praise of Shabbat rest.
Traditionally the Amidah is said whilst standing, beginning with three short steps forward, a reminder of our entry into the divine presence. It is customary at the beginning and end of the first paragraph to bend the knee when saying the word baruch, to bow from the waist at the second word attah and to become upright again with the third word, the name of God, Adonai.
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