the
three divisions, "darkness, clouds, and thick darkness" (Deut. iv. 11).
And this is also the reason why after finishing the Shemonah-esreh three
steps backward are to be made, returning through these three parts or
divisions.

This prayer is to be performed standing, and the feet so joined together
that they should seem as it were one foot only, in order to be like the
angels, of whom it is written (Ezek. i. 7), "And their feet were (so in
the original) a straight foot," that is to say, their feet appeared as
one foot.

This attitude is a sign that the power of locomotion is gone; he cannot
pursue and attain any other object than God. The Gentiles place their
hands together, intending to signify thereby that their hands are as it
were bound; but we, by placing our feet together, intend to signify that
they are as it were entirely bound, which is indicative of greater
humility; for with the hands bound one could still run away in search of
his own pleasure, which he cannot do when the feet are bound.

_Kitzur Sh'lh_, fol. 48, col. 2, and fol. 49, col. 1.

It is lawful for him who rides upon an animal to pray the eighteen
benedictions, and when he comes to the point when he should retrace
three steps, he is to back the animal he is mounted on three steps. And
so also it is lawful to pray the eighteen blessings when sitting and
traveling in a wagon.

Ibid., fol. 49, col. 1.

It is necessary to pay attention to the feet when the worshiper repeats
"Holy! holy! holy!" and he is to lift up his eyes toward heaven. At the
instant the Kiddushah is repeated he needs only lift up his heels, and
thereby his body from the earth toward heaven.... According to Tanchuma
it is necessary to lift up the feet from the earth altogether, after the
example of the angels, of whom it is written (Isa. vi. 2), "And with two
he did fly." It is from this text that the sages have ordained that a
man should fly up (as it were) when he repeats "Holy! holy! holy!" And
let the chooser choose, i.e. it is optional either to lift up the heels
only or to jump.

Ibid.

Any one who visits a synagogue may notice the observance of this
practice. In the synagogues of the Chassidim, jumping is
preferred to lifting up the heels.

It is written (Ps. cii. 17), "He will regard the prayer of the
destitute," and it is not written, "He will hear." What else can the
term "regard" mean than that there is a distinction between the prayer
of an