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Birkat Cohanim: Difference between revisions
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==Upon whom is the mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim?== | ==Upon whom is the mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim?== | ||
# Most rabbinic authorities assume that the mitzvah is upon the Cohanim while a minority opinion assumes that there’s a mitzvah both upon the Cohanim and the Yisraelim who are being blessed. <Ref> | # Most rabbinic authorities assume that the mitzvah is upon the Cohanim while a minority opinion assumes that there’s a mitzvah both upon the Cohanim and the Yisraelim who are being blessed. <Ref>Beiur Halacha 128 intro, Sefer Charedim 12:18, Igrot Moshe 4:21 </ref> | ||
# If a Cohen is in shul and isn’t called up to do the Birkat Cohanim, strictly he isn’t obligated to do Birkat Cohanim (certainly, it’s appropriate and correct to do so) however, once a Cohen is asked to do Birkat Cohanim he violates the biblical command by refusing. <Ref> | # If a Cohen is in shul and isn’t called up to do the Birkat Cohanim, strictly he isn’t obligated to do Birkat Cohanim (certainly, it’s appropriate and correct to do so) however, once a Cohen is asked to do Birkat Cohanim he violates the biblical command by refusing. <Ref>Beiur Halacha 128:4 </ref> | ||
# When a Cohen goes up to bless the congregation, it is as if the Cohen is also being blessed. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 128:2, Yalkut Yosef, [[Tefillah]] Volume 1, page 294</ref> | # When a Cohen goes up to bless the congregation, it is as if the Cohen is also being blessed. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 128:2, Yalkut Yosef, [[Tefillah]] Volume 1, page 294</ref> | ||
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# Because of the opinion that there is also a mitzvah for the Yisraelim to receive the Bracha if one is in Shul when the Cohanim were called one may not leave until after Birkat Cohanim. <ref> Piskei Teshuvot 128:2 </ref> Even if one already heard Birkat Cohanim that day, it's improper to leave the Shul when the Cohanim get up for Birkat Cohanim. <ref>Kaf HaChaim 128:149 </ref> | # Because of the opinion that there is also a mitzvah for the Yisraelim to receive the Bracha if one is in Shul when the Cohanim were called one may not leave until after Birkat Cohanim. <ref> Piskei Teshuvot 128:2 </ref> Even if one already heard Birkat Cohanim that day, it's improper to leave the Shul when the Cohanim get up for Birkat Cohanim. <ref>Kaf HaChaim 128:149 </ref> | ||
# The Tzibbur should stand during Birkat Cohanim and listen to every word with intent. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 128:51, [[Tefillah]] KeHilchata 14:48 </ref> However, a sick or old person may sit during Birkat Cohanim. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, [[Tefillah]] Volume 1, page 298 </ref> | # The Tzibbur should stand during Birkat Cohanim and listen to every word with intent. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 128:51, [[Tefillah]] KeHilchata 14:48 </ref> However, a sick or old person may sit during Birkat Cohanim. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, [[Tefillah]] Volume 1, page 298 </ref> | ||
# If one is slightly behind the Cohanim one is not included in the Bracha, however, if one is standing directly on the side, one is included in the Bracha, yet, one should face the Cohanim. Even if there is a partition - even an iron wall - between the Cohanim and the people who are being blessed, since they are facing the Cohanim, they are included in the blessing.<ref>S”A 128:24, | # If one is slightly behind the Cohanim one is not included in the Bracha, however, if one is standing directly on the side, one is included in the Bracha, yet, one should face the Cohanim. Even if there is a partition - even an iron wall - between the Cohanim and the people who are being blessed, since they are facing the Cohanim, they are included in the blessing.<ref>S”A 128:24, Beiur Halacha D”H Aval, Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot [[Tefillah]] U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 15, Halacha 8</ref> | ||
# If one is in front of the Cohanim one should face east (the front of the Shul). <Ref> | # If one is in front of the Cohanim one should face east (the front of the Shul). <Ref> Beiur Halacha 128:24 D”H Aval </ref> | ||
# One shouldn’t look at the hands of the Cohanim during Birkat Cohanim but rather one should face downward <Ref>S”A 128:23 </ref> or cover one’s face with a [[talit]]. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 128:92, [[Tefillah]] KeHilchata 14:49 </ref> However, nowadays that the Cohanim wear the [[Talit]] over their hands one may look at the Cohanim. <Ref>Siach [[Tefillah]] (Shaar 5, 1:2) writes that nowadays that the Cohanim wear the [[Talit]] over their hands one may look at the Cohanim. [See also Rav Herschel Schacter’s opinion at yu.edu.] [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/753466/Rabbi_Hershel_Schachter/Shavuot_%E2%80%93_Birkat_Cohanim Rabbi Hershel Schachter in a shiur on Birchat Cohanim] (min 33-5) explains that if the Cohanim cover their hands with a [[Talit]] it's permitted for the congregation to look at the Cohanim (based on S"A 128:23). However, the Piskei Teshuvot 128:55 writes that one should still not look at the Cohanim so as not to get distracted even if the Cohanim cover their hands with a Tallit. </ref> | # One shouldn’t look at the hands of the Cohanim during Birkat Cohanim but rather one should face downward <Ref>S”A 128:23 </ref> or cover one’s face with a [[talit]]. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 128:92, [[Tefillah]] KeHilchata 14:49 </ref> However, nowadays that the Cohanim wear the [[Talit]] over their hands one may look at the Cohanim. <Ref>Siach [[Tefillah]] (Shaar 5, 1:2) writes that nowadays that the Cohanim wear the [[Talit]] over their hands one may look at the Cohanim. [See also Rav Herschel Schacter’s opinion at yu.edu.] [http://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/753466/Rabbi_Hershel_Schachter/Shavuot_%E2%80%93_Birkat_Cohanim Rabbi Hershel Schachter in a shiur on Birchat Cohanim] (min 33-5) explains that if the Cohanim cover their hands with a [[Talit]] it's permitted for the congregation to look at the Cohanim (based on S"A 128:23). However, the Piskei Teshuvot 128:55 writes that one should still not look at the Cohanim so as not to get distracted even if the Cohanim cover their hands with a Tallit. </ref> | ||
# The congregation shouldn't say any pesukim during the Birkat Cohanim. <ref>Kitzur S"A 100:13</ref> | # The congregation shouldn't say any pesukim during the Birkat Cohanim. <ref>Kitzur S"A 100:13</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 | # 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 Beiur 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. | ||
==Birkat Kohanim Poster== | ==Birkat Kohanim Poster== | ||
