The Proper Procedure for Bowing During Modim

There is a dispute between the Sha’ar Ha’kavanot and the Rashash (Rabbi Shalom Sharabi, 1720-1777) as to the manner in which one should bow when reciting the phrase "Modim Anahnu Lach" in the Amida prayer. The Rashash maintained that one bows for Modim just as one does when bowing for "Baruch Ata Hashem." Meaning, one bows his body downward when reciting the words "Modim Anahnu Lach," and he lowers his head when reciting "She’Ata Hu." Then, one raises his body, followed by his head, for the recitation of "Hashem." According to the Rashash, then, there are two stages of bowing, and two stages of rising – first the body, and then the head.

The Sha’ar Ha’kavanot, however, maintained that when bowing for Modim, one bows only the head. According to this view, one lowers the head when reciting "Modim Anahnu Lach," and then lifts the head when reciting "Hashem."

The Ben Ish Hai (Rav Yosef Haim of Baghdad, 1833-1909), in his work Od Yosef Hai (Parashat Teruma, 4), writes that Halacha distinguishes in this regard between the Modim in the silent Amida, and the Modim De’Rabbanan which the congregation recites during the Hazan’s repetition of the Amida. When one recites Modim in the silent Amida, he should lower both his head and his body, in the manner described above. This method should also be followed by the Hazan when he recites Modim in the repetition of the Amida. However, when a person recites Modim De’Rabbanan with the congregation during the Hazan’s repetition, he should bow only his head, in accordance with the view of Sha’ar Ha’kavanot. One does not lower his entire body when bowing for Modim De’Rabbanan. He simply lowers his head when reciting "Modim," and then lifts it for the recitation of Hashem’s Name.

Summary: When reciting Modim in the Amida prayer, one should lower his body while reciting the words, "Modim Anahnu Lach," and then lower his head for the words, "She’Ata Hu." He should then lift his body, and then lift his head, for the recitation of "Hashem." However, when reciting Modim De’Rabbanan during the Hazan’s repletion of the Amida, one should bow only his head, and then lift it when reciting "Hashem."