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Is there any order (left/right foot) of how I should step to start and end Shmone Esrei?

Same after finishing Oseh Shalom.

Sephardic sources preferably, please. Thanks in advance! :-)

kouty
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  • http://www.toratemetfreeware.com/online/f_01355_part_7.html#HtmpReportNum0011_L2 – Danny Schoemann Feb 02 '17 at 09:29
  • I don't have time right now to track it down, but I believe there is a source that instructs to step first with the right foot when beginning S.E. (which I think shows eagerness to begin) and with the left foot when ending S.E. (which I think shows reluctance to end). – Jay Feb 02 '17 at 14:47
  • related http://judaism.stackexchange.com/q/17526/759 http://judaism.stackexchange.com/q/48976/759 – Double AA Feb 02 '17 at 14:48

1 Answers1

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Steps to start

See is in RMA OC 95, 1 in the name of the Rokeach. He says that to make three steps forward before the Amida is an expression of going to begin some action. The Mishna Berura sk 3 says that the general custom is to make three steps backward before the three forward steps. For those steps there is no mention of right or left before.

Steps to finish

See in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chayim 123, 1-3. The three steps need to be curved back and knees, each step needs to have an amplitude of a foot length, the first step is made with the left leg. After the three steps he needs to straighten and turning leftward to say ose shalom; saying hu yaase shalom he turns clockwise, and at the end he needs to prostate himself as a slave who is separating from his master.

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kouty
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  • I would assume all walking forward is right foot first. That's why a mezuzah is on the right side going in. +1 in any case. – user6591 Feb 02 '17 at 23:59
  • @user6591 may be but it is not mentioned in the mefarshim I seen – kouty Feb 03 '17 at 02:56