Congregation Shema Yisrael

As for the foreigner who does not belong to your people Israel but has come from a distant land because of your name, for men will hear of your great name and your mighty hand and your outstretched arm, when he comes and prays toward this Temple, then hear from Heaven, your dwelling place, and do whatever the foreigner asks of you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know your name and fear you, as do your own people Israel, and may know that this house I have built bears your Name. -1 Kings 8:41-43

Traditionally, Jews, and those of us who have attached ourselves to Israel, face east, towards Jerusalem and the Temple Mount when we pray. It’s a reminder of who we serve, and an expression of longing for the coming of Messiah, who will rule the earth one day from that site. Some people are surprised that not only does facing east have a Biblical basis for Jews in prayer, but for Gentiles as well.

Beyond the words of King Solomon recorded in 1 Kings 8 though, Jewish thought regarding the “location” of the Divine Presence, and which compass direction to face while praying becomes a little interesting, at least to those of us without a classic Jewish education in Mishnah and Gemara.

The Mishnah for Bava Basra 25 records an overview for the daf citing references for the location of the Divine Presence.

R’ Acha bar Yaakov successfully challenges R’ Yehoshua ben Levi’s proof that the Divine Presence resides in the West.
R’ Oshaya asserts that the Divine Presence is in every direction, as does R’ Sheishes.
R’ Avahu agrees with R’ Yehoshua ben Levi that the Divine Presence is found in the West.
From Daf Digest
Overview of the Daf
Bava Basra 25

The discussion continues regarding the direction one should face while praying. Without engaging in lengthy quotes, the commentary suggests that one should face south for wisdom and north for wealth. There is also an acknowledgement that Jews typically face east towards Jerusalem, although for European Jews, Jerusalem is more in the direction of the southwest. How does this affect those of us praying to the Father, in the name of his son Yeshua?

During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” -Matthew 14:25-33

Most believers recall this passage as illustrating the importance of keeping your eyes on Yeshua as Lord and Master. While Peter focused his eyes and attention on Yeshua, he was able to walk on water. The minute, he took his gaze away, and realized his situation in a purely human fashion, he fell into the water, much like the cartoon coyote who, while chasing the road runner, realizes he’s running on clouds, and then abruptly falls to the earth.

I say all this, not to denegrate the wisdom and teachings of the Rabbinic sages, but to illustrate the difference between tradition and faith. It’s possible to “overanalyze” writings and teachings to the point where we miss the object of our faith. There’s nothing wrong with facing east towards Jerusalem in prayer, as long as you realize why you have adopted the custom. If you think you must face east (or west, north, or south) in order for God to hear you, then you are indeed being “legalistic”, just as we’re sometimes accused. If you face east out of a sense of longing, representing your desire to see the Messiah’s reign, and realize that God can hear your prayers regardless of which compass point you face, you have a better understanding.

Facing the “location” of God in order to be “heard” is also vain, because, as R’ Oshaya and R’ Sheishes previously asserted, the Divine Presence exists in all directions. God in omnipresent; existing everywhere all at once. We truly don’t understand how God accomplishes this miracle, nor is it important for us to understand. God is as close as the Spirit that dwells inside us, so in that sense, we couldn’t escape God if we tried, anymore than the prophet Jonah could. Of course, facing ourselves to pray to the Spirit also seems ridiculous (we’d have to look in a mirror, I suppose). If we get lost in the “mechanics” of prayer, we do not gain the benefits of prayer; which is opening our hearts to God.

A particular danger built in to Torah obedience, is letting the obedience part take over, while minimizing or ignoring the spiritual basis for Torah. Torah, and particularly oral Torah, tradition, and halakah, if performed for their own sake, may yield some intellectual benefits, but God didn’t give information and ceremony for their own sake. James, the half-brother of the Master (in James 2:14-26) tells us that faith and action go hand-in-hand. God gave Torah to a community that had already achieved faith, redemption, and reconciliation with God, through grace. Torah is God’s preferred lifestyle for the redeemed community, and our response to God’s grace and mercy in our lives. Our faith, and how we live our lives on a day-by-day basis within that faith, go hand-in-hand.

Prayer is our natural calling out to God, expressing our wants and needs, lifting our voices in praise and adoration of the Almighty, and most of all, issuing the simple acknowledgement that God, the maker of all Creation, is our God. How we pray can have symbolic significance to us, such as facing towards Jerusalem, but it’s not our tradition or symbolism that impresses God. What God sees and hears is what resides in our hearts. If we pray with true faith and devotion, exactly how we pray is less important. The direction you face in prayer is less important. The language you speak, whether you stand or kneel, whether you wear tzitzit or teffilin in prayer; all this is less important to God, than why you’re praying and with what type of heart you pray.

In the end, the direction you face when praying to God cannot be found as a compass point or a set of coordinates in three dimensional space. The “direction” is always towards Heaven, and the heart of God is all around us and inside of us. If you’ve already let Him into your heart, then He’s always with you, …when you sit in your home, and when you walk on your way, when you retire, and when you arise… (from Deuteronomy 6:7).

It’s sort of like dressing up for a special occasion, to honor the great King who has invited you to a banquet, and who desires to spend personal time with you. If you face east, wear tefillin, wear tzitzit, or follow other customs in prayer, may they be your way of honoring God with what you already have in your heart; love, faith, devotion, and a desire to share your time and your life with Him.