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Birkat Cohanim: Difference between revisions
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# Even though they already did [[Netilat Yadayim]] that morning, during the Chazara, the Cohanim must wash their hands all the way to their wrists, except in extenuating circumstances (i.e. if they would have to pass in front of someone praying Amidah <Ref>Yalkut Yosef [[Tefillah]] Volume 2, Siman 128, Seif 25</Ref>), when they may rely on the original Netilah if they had washed their hands up to their wrists and kept them clean since.<ref>S"A 128:6, Mishnah Brurah 128:19</ref> On [[Yom Kippur]] and Tisha B’Av, however, one cannot rely on the minimal morning washing of the fingers alone and must wash his hands to the wrists.<ref>Chazon Ovadia: Yamim Noraim page 312</ref> | # Even though they already did [[Netilat Yadayim]] that morning, during the Chazara, the Cohanim must wash their hands all the way to their wrists, except in extenuating circumstances (i.e. if they would have to pass in front of someone praying Amidah <Ref>Yalkut Yosef [[Tefillah]] Volume 2, Siman 128, Seif 25</Ref>), when they may rely on the original Netilah if they had washed their hands up to their wrists and kept them clean since.<ref>S"A 128:6, Mishnah Brurah 128:19</ref> On [[Yom Kippur]] and Tisha B’Av, however, one cannot rely on the minimal morning washing of the fingers alone and must wash his hands to the wrists.<ref>Chazon Ovadia: Yamim Noraim page 312</ref> | ||
# Even if there is no platform, the Cohanim should still go up to bless the congregation. Therefore, if the one leading the [[prayers]] is the only cohen present, he should bless "Birkat Cohanim" from where he is standing, and he doesn't need to move to the platform. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, [[Tefillah]] Volume 1, page 294</ref> | # Even if there is no platform, the Cohanim should still go up to bless the congregation. Therefore, if the one leading the [[prayers]] is the only cohen present, he should bless "Birkat Cohanim" from where he is standing, and he doesn't need to move to the platform. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, [[Tefillah]] Volume 1, page 294</ref> | ||
# The Cohanim who are going to say Birkat Cohanim must remove their shoes, whether or not they are leather. <Ref> Gemara Sotah 40a writes that Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai instituted that the Cohanim should not go up wearing sandals or any type of shoe for two reasons: 1) out of respect to the congregation not to go before them with dirty shoes and 2) so that a Cohen doesn't have to tie his shoes during Birkat Cohanim and then appear as if he's a Pasul Cohen. This halacha is codified in Rambam 14:6 and S"A 128:5. Chida in Machzik Bracha 128:7 writes that this halacha applies even to non-leather shoes. Kaf HaChaim 128:28 and Halacha Brurah 128:16 agree. </ref>However, those communities in Chutz LeAretz who have a minhag not to remove their shoes if they say Birkat Cohanim from the floor without going up on the duchan have what to rely on.<ref>Yafeh Lelev 128:29 is lenient for Cohanim to wear shoes if they don't go up on the duchan. Although Kaf HaChaim 128:107 disagrees, Halacha Brurah 128:17 says that there's what to rely upon. Yachava Daat 2:13 writes that one who finds it hard not to take off their shoes may rely on the Yafeh Lelev so as not to lose this mitzvah entirely, however, those who want to fulfill mitzvot in the best way should remove | # The Cohanim who are going to say Birkat Cohanim must remove their shoes, whether or not they are leather. <Ref> Gemara Sotah 40a writes that Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai instituted that the Cohanim should not go up wearing sandals or any type of shoe for two reasons: 1) out of respect to the congregation not to go before them with dirty shoes and 2) so that a Cohen doesn't have to tie his shoes during Birkat Cohanim and then appear as if he's a Pasul Cohen. This halacha is codified in Rambam 14:6 and S"A 128:5. Chida in Machzik Bracha 128:7 writes that this halacha applies even to non-leather shoes. Kaf HaChaim 128:28 and Halacha Brurah 128:16 agree. </ref>However, those communities in Chutz LeAretz who have a minhag not to remove their shoes if they say Birkat Cohanim from the floor without going up on the duchan have what to rely on.<ref>Yafeh Lelev 128:29 is lenient for Cohanim to wear shoes if they don't go up on the duchan. Although Kaf HaChaim 128:107 disagrees, Halacha Brurah 128:17 says that there's what to rely upon. Yachava Daat 2:13 writes that one who finds it hard not to take off their shoes may rely on the Yafeh Lelev so as not to lose this mitzvah entirely, however, those who want to fulfill mitzvot in the best way should remove their shoes. </ref> | ||
# The shoes should be leftin a hidden place or even under a chair less than ten [[Tefachim]] (~2.5ft) off the ground in order to preserve the sanctity of the Beit HaKnesset.<ref>Kaf HaChaim 128:30 in the name of the Kenesset HaGedolah (middle of the footnote), Ohr Letzion volume 2, 45:40, See Halacha Brurah 128:19 that explains that they should really be left outside the synagogue sanctuary.</ref> | # The shoes should be leftin a hidden place or even under a chair less than ten [[Tefachim]] (~2.5ft) off the ground in order to preserve the sanctity of the Beit HaKnesset.<ref>Kaf HaChaim 128:30 in the name of the Kenesset HaGedolah (middle of the footnote), Ohr Letzion volume 2, 45:40, See Halacha Brurah 128:19 that explains that they should really be left outside the synagogue sanctuary.</ref> | ||
# When the Cohanim put back on their shoes, they shouldn't touch their shoes. If they touch their shoes, they have to wash [[Netilat Yadayim]].<ref>Kitzur S"A 100:16</ref> | # When the Cohanim put back on their shoes, they shouldn't touch their shoes. If they touch their shoes, they have to wash [[Netilat Yadayim]].<ref>Kitzur S"A 100:16</ref> | ||
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# Some say that a Yisrael may not raise his fingers in the same fashion as the cohanim do for Birkat Cohanim. <ref>Piskei Teshuvot 128:3 based on Kaf HaChaim 128:79 who quotes the Zohar. However, see Sh"t Rivevot Efraim 1:93(2) who questions whether this prohibition applies to Yisraelim or not. See also Sh"t Yechave Daat 5:14 who defends the minhag to bless one's children with one or two hands. </ref> | # Some say that a Yisrael may not raise his fingers in the same fashion as the cohanim do for Birkat Cohanim. <ref>Piskei Teshuvot 128:3 based on Kaf HaChaim 128:79 who quotes the Zohar. However, see Sh"t Rivevot Efraim 1:93(2) who questions whether this prohibition applies to Yisraelim or not. See also Sh"t Yechave Daat 5:14 who defends the minhag to bless one's children with one or two hands. </ref> | ||
# If a Yisrael makes the blessing of the cohanim, with the intention of doing the mitzvah, he is transgressing a positive commandment, because only the cohanim were commanded.<Ref> Rama 128:1, Yalkut Yosef, [[Tefillah]] Volume 1, page 296 </ref> | # If a Yisrael makes the blessing of the cohanim, with the intention of doing the mitzvah, he is transgressing a positive commandment, because only the cohanim were commanded.<Ref> Rama 128:1, Yalkut Yosef, [[Tefillah]] Volume 1, page 296 </ref> | ||
# However, parents blessing their children and Rabbis blessing their students, may put both of their hands on their heads while reciting the blessing, since the only prohibition is to make the blessing with the intention of fulfilling the mitzvah of the commandment, and to do it like the cohen.<Ref> Yalkut Yosef, [[Tefillah]] Volume 1, page 296. See Biur Halacha 128:1 s.v. DeZar who writes that the minhag of Yisraelim to bless other Jews with the words of Birkat cohanim is either based on the fact that perhaps there's only a prohibition if they raise | # However, parents blessing their children and Rabbis blessing their students, may put both of their hands on their heads while reciting the blessing, since the only prohibition is to make the blessing with the intention of fulfilling the mitzvah of the commandment, and to do it like the cohen.<Ref> Yalkut Yosef, [[Tefillah]] Volume 1, page 296. See Biur Halacha 128:1 s.v. DeZar who writes that the minhag of Yisraelim to bless other Jews with the words of Birkat cohanim is either based on the fact that perhaps there's only a prohibition if they raise their hands like cohanim or that they have kavana not to fulfill the mitzvah of Birkat cohanim. </ref> | ||
# There is no worry about saying a "Bracha levatala", a blessing in vain, since they are verses in the Torah, which are permitted to say. | # There is no worry about saying a "Bracha levatala", a blessing in vain, since they are verses in the Torah, which are permitted to say. | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
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