May requests be made in other languages?

The Achronim say that the forty-two letters of the verse Yihyu L’rotzon have deep Kabbalistic meaning and contain segulos for various matters. They note that the verse begins and ends with the letter yud, has ten words, and contains the letter yud ten times. Saying it slowly and with feeling can be extremely beneficial to tefilla and helps tefillos to be accepted. Before Yihyu L’rotzon, a person should daven daily for all of his and his family’s general needs (e.g. livelihood, the ability to learn Torah and be true Ovdei Hashem, etc.) as well as for any specific needs he may have. If he can articulate his request in Lashon Kodesh, he should do so. Otherwise, he may make his requests in the language he is familiar with. It is best to make additional requests at the end of Shemoneh Esrei rather than in the middle of Shema Koleinu. This way, if the time comes to respond to devarim shebekedusha, he will be able to say Yihyu L’rotzon and answer at the appropriate time.

סי' קכ"ב ס"ק ז'

Why do we bow first to the left during Oseh Sholom?

At the conclusion of Shemoneh Esrei one should bow while taking three steps back. When saying the words Oseh Sholom he should bow to his left, when saying Hu Ya’aseh Sholom he should bow to his right, and when saying the words V’al Kol Yisroel he should bow forward. By bowing first towards the left as one faces the Shechina, one is bowing towards the right of the Shechina. After saying Oseh Sholom, one should say the Yehi Rotzon which is a bakasha for the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdosh. This is an appropriate time for such a bakasha, since tefilla corresponds to the korbonos. If the chazan has already begun Chazoras Hashatz by the time one reaches Yehi Rotzon, the poskim disagree about whether one should continue saying the Yehi Rotzon or wait until the end of Chazoras Hashatz.   

סי' קכ"ג ס"א ס"ק א'-ה' ביאורים ומוספים דרשו 4

How long does one have to remain in place after Shemoneh Esrei?

After a person takes three steps back, he must remain in place and not immediately return to his original spot. Returning immediately would give the impression that the three steps back were not a sincere gesture of a servant taking leave of his master. Preferably, he should remain in place until the chazan reaches Kedushah. Minimally, he should wait until the chazan begins Chazoras Hashatz. During Ma’ariv on a weekday, he should wait in place until the chazan begins Kaddish. For the Friday night Ma’ariv, he should remain in his spot until the chazan begins Vayechulu. If one only finishes just as the chazan is starting Kedushah, he should immediately return to his place. It is best to say Kedushah in one’s primary spot. If one finishes just as the chazan is starting Kaddish, however, he does not need to return to his spot to answer Amen Yehei Shmei Rabbah.

ס"ב ס"ק ו'-ט' ביאורים ומוספים דרשו 5, 8

• We daven that Hashem should accept ishei Yisroel u’tfilosom. How can we daven for the acceptance of ishei Yisroel (the offerings of Yisroel) if we no longer bring korbonos? There are three explanations given for these words: 1) We are praying for our tefillos, which take the place of korbonos, to be accepted. 2) Ishei Yisroel refers to the sacrifices of the neshamos of tzadikim which are brought by the malach Michoel on the heavenly mizbeyach. The words ishei Yisroel refer to these anshei Yisroel/tzadikim. 3) Ishei Yisroel are the last words of the sentence in which we ask Hashem to restore the service in the Beis Hamikdosh and the ishei Yisroel (the korbonos). U’tfilosom is the first word of a new sentence, in which we ask Hashem to accept our tefillos.

• Chazal instituted that one should say Yihyu L’rotzon after completing Shemoneh Esrei. According to the Shulchan Aruch, Yihyu L’rotzon should be said before starting Elokai Netzor.

• If a person has already said the final verse of Yihyu L’rotzon and has not yet taken three steps back, he may respond to all devarim shebekedusha including Boruch Hu U’voruch Shmo.

• Is it permissible to turn around after completing Shemoneh Esrei?

• Why does one step back first with his left foot?

• What is the proper way to take three steps back?