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 Q: What is the significance of taking three steps back when doing the Shemonei Esre (Amida) Prayer
Rabbi Eli Mansour: The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 123) writes that when one completes the Amida, just before he recites "Oseh Shalom Bi'mromav.," he should bow and step back three steps. (For the details concerning how precisely these steps should be taken, see the Daily Halacha entitled "Taking Three Steps Back and Bowing: the End of the Amida," dated January 26, 2005.) What is the reason for taking three backward steps upon completing the Amida?
The Shulchan Aruch mentions perhaps the simplest and most obvious reason, namely, that upon completing the Amida we leave the presence of God as a servant humbly takes leave of his master. It would be improper for a servant to simply turn around and leave with his back towards his master. He rather steps back slowly while still facing his master, as an expression of humble submission. Indeed, the Gemara in Masechet Yoma, Daf 53A, tells of a number of Rabbis who, when leaving the presence of their teachers, would walk backwards, facing the teacher, until the teacher was out of sight. Similarly, rather than simply turning around after completing the Amida, we take leave of the Almighty by slowly stepping backward.
The Beit Yosef (commentary to the Tur by Rabbi Yosef Karo, author of the Shulchan Aruch) mentions an additional reason for stepping backwards three times. Our prayers serve as a substitute for the sacrificial service performed by the Kohanim in the Beit Ha'mikdash. After the Kohen would place the limbs and fats of the daily Tamid offering on the altar, he would walk down backwards along the ramp of the altar, which ended with three steps leading to the ground. As our prayer service corresponds to the daily Tamid offering, we end our Amida in similar fashion to the Kohen's conclusion of the Tamid ritual, and we, too, take three steps back upon concluding the Amida prayer.
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