Knees down
Sir: The article by Sandra Barwick (Not waving but praying', 20 October) contains what I believe is a palpable error. The article states that our new Archbishop, Dr Carey, in an effort to promote tolerance, pointed out that the practice of praying on both knees is a 'relatively modern develop- ment; Hebrew priests had prayed standing upright'. In fact when synagogue worship became common after the destruction of the Temple, Jews were wont to kneel at all or most services when the Reader pro- nounced the words Weanachnu koreitn' (we kneel), as part of a prayer still read to this day at the end of most services.
Although, for certain reasons not re- levant to this letter, the practice of kneel- ing at most services was abandoned, ortho- dox synagogues still observe it on the High Holydays — New Year and the day of Atonement.
Early Christians who, prior to the con- version and subsequent activities of St Paul, were merely a sect of Jewry con- .- 'Typical — you wait ages for a wedding guest and then three come along.' tinued to follow the practice of kneeling at all or most services, whereas Jews have restricted the practice as mentioned above. Charles Rubens
12 Bracknell Gate, Frognal Lane, London NW3
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