Praying with Our Bodies

Our Rabbis have taught : A blind man or one who is unable to locate the directions should direct his heart to his Father in Heaven ; as it is said, "And they pray unto the Lord" (I Kings viii. 44). If he is standing outside the [Holy] Land, he must direct his heart towards the land of Israel ... Consequently if he is standing in the East, he must turn West ; if in the West, he must turn East ; if in the South, he must turn North ; if in the North, he must turn South. As a result, all Israel will be directing their heart to one spot.

Rabbi Yitzchak says, One who wants to become wise should turn south [during prayer]; one who wants to become rich should turn north, and the mnemonic for this is that the table was in the north [of the Mishkan] and the Menorah was to the south. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: One should always face south because from becoming wise, one will become rich, as it says, “Length of days in its right, and on its left riches and honor” (Proverbs 3:16). But did not Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi say: God’s presence is in the west? [Indeed] one stands in a partly turned manner [i.e., south and west]. Rabbi Chanina said to Rav Ashi: Just like you [of the Babylonian community], who are settled to the north of Israel should turn south.

The spine of a man turns into a snake after seven years, should he not bow while reciting "we give thanks."