Midrash su Levitico 19:26

Further said R. Jose, the son of R. Chanina, in the name of R. Eliezer b. Jacob: "A man should never stand upon an elevated place while praying, but upon a low place shall he stand and pray, as it is said (Ps. 130, 1.) Out of the depth have I called Thee. O Lord." We have also a Baraitha to the same effect: "A man should never stand either upon a chair or upon a bench nor upon an elevated place while praying, but upon a low place shall he stand and pray because pride cannot exist before the Lord, as it is written (Ib.) Out of the depth have I called Thee, O Lord, and it is also written (Ib. 102, 1.) A prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed." Again said R. Jose, the son of R. Chanina in the name of R. Eliezer b. Jacob: "He who prays should keep his feet straight (one near the other), for it is said (Ez 1, 8.) Their feet were straight feet." And R. Jose, the son of R. Chanina, in the name of R. Eliezer b. Jacob, said further: "What means the passage (Lev. 19, 26.) Ye shall not eat upon the blood? Ye shall not eat before ye pray on behalf of your blood (life)." R. Isaac said in the name of R. Jochanan, who spoke in the name of R. Jose, the son of R. Chanina, who in turn, quoted R. Eliezer b. Jacob: "Concerning one who eats and drinks, and then prays, of him the passage says: (I Kin. 14, 9.) And me hast thou cast behind thy back. Do not read Geivecha (thy back) but read it Geiyecha (thy pride), i. e., the Holy One, praised be He! said: 'Only after this one had become haughty [through eating] he took upon himself the Heavenly Kingdom.'"

1) (Vayikra 19:26) ("You shall not eat over the blood. Do not practice divination and do not practice soothsaying.") Whence is it derived that one who eats of a beast before it expires transgresses a negative commandment? From "You shall not eat over the blood" (i.e., while the life-blood is still in the animal) Variantly: "You shall not eat over the blood": You shall not eat of the flesh (of an offering) while the blood is still in the salver (and has not yet been sprinkled). R. Dossa says: Whence is it derived that a meal of consolation is not eaten over those executed by beth-din? From "You shall not eat over the blood." R. Akiva says: Whence is it derived that a Sanhedrin which executed someone is not to taste anything that day? From "You shall not eat over the blood." R. Yossi b. Chalafta says: Whence is derived the exhortation against a "rebellious son"? From "You shall not eat over the blood" (i.e., You shall not eat in such a manner as to be driven to the spilling of blood.")

2) "Do not practice divination": in the manner of those who divine by weasels, birds, and stars. "Do not practice soothsaying": in the manner of those who "capture" the eyes (of others, causing them to believe that they are seeing wonders). R. Yishmael says: in the manner of one who passes seven kinds of semen (from different animals) over his eyes (and performs magic thereby). R. Akiva says: in the manner of those who prognosticate times on the basis of (such observations as) "The eves of seventh years are bound to be bountiful" (in the growth of grain); legumes are "uprooted" (from good at those times and are destined) to be bad.