Birkat Cohanim: Difference between revisions

# A Cohen who refuses to go up to the Duchan without a valid reason is in violation  of one positive commandment from the Torah, though it’s equivalent to three.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 128:2</ref>

#While on the Duchan, the Kohanim should say the “Yehi Ratzon” [[prayer]] printed in the Siddur and complete it with one of the Chazzan’s [[Berachot]], so the Tzibbur essentially answers [[Amen]] to them, as well.<ref> Shulchan Aruch 128:13 and Mishna Brurah there</ref>

#All turns in Halacha are made to the right, and Birkat Kohanim is no exception. The Kohanim must turn clockwise while saying the Beracha so that they should finish saying "BeAhavah" while facing the Tzibbur.<ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot [[Tefillah]] U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 13; Yalkut Yosef [[Tefillah]] Volume 2, 128:49</ref> They again turn clockwise after the Chazzan starts Sim Shalom.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 128:17</ref>

#If only one Cohen is blessing the people, he should turn around after the shaliach tzibbur finishes the bracha of "hatov shimcha" and begin reciting the blessing alone. Afterwards, the sheliach tzibur says the words of Birkat cohanim one word at a time and Cohen repeats each word after the shaliach tzibbur, as explained below.<ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot [[Tefillah]] U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 8, Shulchan Aruch 128:10</ref>

# If the only cohen in the tzibur is the Sheliach tzibur, and he is using a siddur and will therefore not be confused and will be able to continue in his tefila after Birkat cohanim, he should move his feet during the bracha of "Retzeh", and then go do Birkat cohanim, so that the tzibur will not miss out on this special blessing. But if there is another cohen who can do Birkat cohanim, the sheliach tzibur should not go. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, [[Tefillah]] Volume 1, page 311</ref>

# If the sheliach tzibur forgot to do Birkat coahanim, and he started the blessing of "Sim Shalom", as long as he did not finish the blessing of "Sim Shalom", if he remembers he can go back. But if he finished the words "Hamevarech et amo yisrael basahalom"(the end of "Sim Shalom"), he can no longer go back. And even though there are those who say that you can do Birkat cohanim after the [[prayers]] are finished, it is better not to do it. ([[Safek brachot lehakel]]- when we have a doubt about blessing we should be lenient, and not say the blessing)<Ref> Yalkut Yosef, [[Tefillah]] Volume 1, page 315</ref>

# Birkat Kohanim must be said loudly in Hebrew - so at least nine people (Lechatechilah, the entire Tzibbur<ref>Ohr Letzion vol. 2 Siman 4</ref>) can hear, while standing up with raised hands, all of which are necessary even Bediavad. Any Cohen who cannot fulfill these requirements may not go up to the Duchan. Accordingly, the '''Cohanim must raise their at shoulder height'''.<ref> Rambam Hilchot [[Tefillah]] 14:11, See Shu"t Noda BeYehudah vol. 1 Siman 5, Torah Temimah Parashat Naso ot 134, Mishna Brurah 128:52, Piskei Teshuvot vol. 2, Siman 128, Footnote 174, Shu"t Yabia Omer vol. 8, O"C 13:2 brought down in Yalkut Yosef [[Tefillah]] vol. 2 128:50, and at length in Halacha Brurah 128:57, especially in footnote 127.</ref>

[[Image:CohanimCorrect.png|200px|right]]

#According to the Shulchan Aruch,<ref> 128:12. See Yalkut Yosef [[Tefillah]] vol. 2 128:50, Piskei Teshuvot vol. 2, footnote 175, as well as his explanation on the top and the pictures in the back of the Sefer, Halachaq Brurah 128:45-48 and the Berur Halacha 41-42 for various explanations and illustrations of the different Minhagim regarding how to hold one's hands and fingers, including a Yishuv for the Lashon or the Shulchan Aruch and the Minhag HaArizal. For further understanding of the two Minhagei HaMekubalim, see Zohar Parashat Naso 121a, Siddur Ya'avetz Dinei Nesiat Kappayim Ot 24, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 100:9, Ma'aseh Rav Ot 167, Ben Ish Chai Shana Aleph Parashat Tetzaveh and Halichot Olam Parashat Tetzaveh. (editor's note regarding the BI"H: he says he can't find the source in the Kitvei HaAri, but the other Acharonim mentioned before and after did), Kaf HaChaim 128:77 and 80, Shu"T Ohr LeTzion vol. 2, Hilchot Nesiat Kappayim 8:3, and, of course, the Halacha Brurah mentioned above.</ref> the outstretched arms must be held in a straight line (i.e. no bent elbows, fingers, etc.), the right hand should be a little bit higher than the left with spaces in between the middle and ring fingers so that the middle and index fingers are held together and the ring and pinky fingers are held together. The thumbs should be spread out, as well, and not touching. The fingers should all be held straight, parallel to the ground. If a Kohen can’t hold his fingers in this position, he should just spread them all out.<ref> Yalku Yosef [[Tefillah]] vol. 2, 128:50</ref>

#'''Even though there are various Minhagim regarding how to spread one’s fingers, everyone agrees the hands must be at shoulder height while saying the words! Therefore, one may not "shuckle" back and forth with his hands going up and down. Also, if a Cohen gets too tired, he may briefly rest his hands in between words, as long as he raises them up again before saying the next word.'''<ref>Mishna Brurah 128:52, see earlier footnote about shoulder height.</ref>

#The Cohanim should have in mind to fulfill the Mitzvat Aseh Min HaTorah (Positive Torah commandment) of blessing Am Yisrael.

#The Cohanim must be vigilant to stay in sync, to say each word together in unison, starting each word after the Chazzan finishes saying it and not elongating the words more than the other Kohanim.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 128:18</ref>

#While saying the words ending in a Chaf Sofit (Yevarechecha, VeYishmerecha, Eilecha, Viyichuneka, Eilecha, and Lecha) and “Shalom,” the Cohanim turn to their left and right to spread out the Beracha to the people on their sides.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 128:45, Mishna Brurah 168</ref>

# The cohanim should be careful not to continue the next blessing until the congregants have finished saying "[[Amen]]".<ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot [[Tefillah]] U'Bikcat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 5, Shulchan Aruch 128:13</ref>

# At the end of Birkat Cohanim, the Cohanim should not turn back around (so that their backs are facing the congregation), nor should they put their hands down and close their fingers, until the sheliach tzibur begins the beracha of "Sim Shalom". <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot [[Tefillah]] U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 6, Shulchan Aruch 128:16</ref>

# The cohanim should not return to their places until the shaliach tzibbur finishes "sim shalom" and some say until the congregation finishes [[answering Amen]].<Ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot [[Tefillah]] U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 4, Shulchan Aruch 128:16</ref>

#The Cohanim are not allowed to add any other [[blessings]] to the Birkat Cohanim.<ref>Gemara [[Rosh Hashana]] 28b, Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot [[Tefillah]] U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 12</ref> Doing so constitues "Bal Tosif".<ref>Deuteronomy (Devarim) 4:2</ref>

==Procedure of Birkat Cohanim for the Shaliach Tzibbur==