73. Mengapa Yahudi Menghadap ke Timur Saat Berdoa?

Pertanyaan: 73. Mengapa Yahudi Menghadap ke Timur Saat Berdoa?

Di Yerusalem, orang Yahudi selalu menghadap bukit suci dari bait suci saat berdoa (lihat Dan. 6:10; II Taw. 6:34). Orang Samaria, sebaliknya, menghadap Bukit Gerizim. Di pelataran bait suci, orang Yahudi dalam berdoa menghadap bait suci itu sendiri (lihat 1 Raja 8:38) ke Tempat Mahakudus (lihat Mazm 5:8). Daniel, saat berdoa dalam pengasingan, membuka jendelanya menghadap Yerusalem (lihat Dan. 6:10). Orang Yahudi modern di Eropa dan Amerika biasanya menghadap Timur dalam berdoa. Pada masa awal umat Kristen, ada kebiasaan menghadap Timur tetapi itu sudah lama dihentikan. Orang-orang Muslim menghadap ke arah Mekah.

Question: 73. Why Do the Jews Face the East When Praying?

In Jerusalem, the Jews always turned their faces toward the "holy hill" of the temple while praying (see Dan. 6:10; II Chron. 6:34). The Samaritans, on the contrary, faced Mt. Gerizim. In the court of the temple, the Jews in prayer faced the temple itself (see I Kings 8:38) to the Holy of Holies (see Ps. 5:8). Daniel, while praying in exile, opened his window toward Jerusalem (see Dan. 6:10). Modern Jews in Europe and America customarily face the East in prayer. It was a custom among the early Christians to face the East but that has long been discontinued. Mohammedans face in the direction of Mecca.

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