Prayer and Blessings
Turning to the Sides When Saying "Vekara Zeh El Zeh Veamar"
According to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, Which Side Should One Turn First?
Question
Hello, honored rabbi,
I wanted to ask: which side should one turn to when saying "Vekara zeh el zeh veamar" in the Kedushah during prayer, according to Rabbi Ovadia Yosef of blessed memory? And if he addressed this, where did he write it? Because I cannot find it. I only found that Rabbi Mutzafi, may he live long, wrote in his book Shivat Tzion to turn first to the right, then to the left, and then to the center.
Thank you, honored rabbi
Answer
Hello,
Rabbi Ovadia Yosef of blessed memory would, when saying "Vekara zeh el zeh veamar," turn his face slightly to the right and then slightly to the left.
Sources: See what was written in Shu"t Mayim Chayim, part 2 (siman 7, by Rabbi Chaim David Halevi of blessed memory), in Shu"t UDrashtah veChakartah, part 1 (Orach Chayim, siman 22, letter 1), in the book Derech Yesharah (chapter 15, note 13), and in the book Kera Ravatz (pages 248-258) bringing support for the custom of the world in this matter. See there. In the book Halichot Shevet HaLevi (chapter 13, note 6), it was written that he heard from his father, Rabbi Yosef Binyamin Wosner, may he live long, that he once asked the gaon Rabbi Meir Abuchatzira of blessed memory what the source was for this practice, since we do not find its source in halacha, and he answered him that according to Kabbalah it has a solid source. In the book Minhagei HaRishon LeTzion, part 1 (chapter 6, section 15), it was written that Rabbi Ovadia Yosef of blessed memory would, when saying "Vekara zeh el zeh veamar," turn his face slightly to the right and then slightly to the left. And so too in the above-mentioned Shu"t Mayim Chayim and in Shu"t Rivevot Ephraim, part 5 (siman 103, letter 2), it was written that the right side should be preceded. See there. And so too Rabbi Meir Mazuz, may he live long, wrote in the notes and comments on Ben Ish Chai, part 1 (Parashat Terumah, letter 5), and Rabbi Yaakov Moshe Hillel, may he live long, wrote in Kovetz Mekabtziel (issue 25, page 278). However, in Shu"t Az Nidberu, part 13 (siman 32, letter 3), it was written that we do not practice this, and therefore even those who do follow this custom need not be particular about which side to begin with. See there. Likewise, in the book Halichot Shevet HaLevi (there, section 2), it was written that his grandfather, Rabbi Shmuel HaLevi Wosner of blessed memory, did not practice this. In the note there, it was written that he heard from him that he did not do so, because he did not find a source for it in halacha. And similarly, in the book Derech Yesharah (chapter 15, section 14), it was written that Rabbi Sharya Deblitzky of blessed memory did not practice this. And may I distinguish, Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, may he live long, wrote in Da'at Noteh, part 1 (page 362): אצלנו לא נהוג זה, ואיני יודע מי המציא זה.
With blessing, Hillel Meirs
