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Birkat Cohanim: Difference between revisions
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#The Mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim is biblical (Deoritta) even nowadays, in all places at all times. <ref>Sefer HaChinuch (378), Shaar HaTziyun 128:131*, Yalkut Yosef ([[Tefillah]] vol 2, pg 217), Shu"t Mishkenot Yaakov 66. </ref> It is based on the pasuk "דַּבֵּר אֶל-אַהֲרֹן וְאֶל-בָּנָיו לֵאמֹר, כֹּה תְבָרְכוּ אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל: אָמוֹר, לָהֶם" meaning "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: This is how you must bless the Israelites". <ref>Bamidbar 6:23</ref> | #The Mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim is biblical (Deoritta) even nowadays, in all places at all times. <ref>Sefer HaChinuch (378), Shaar HaTziyun 128:131*, Yalkut Yosef ([[Tefillah]] vol 2, pg 217), Shu"t Mishkenot Yaakov 66. </ref> It is based on the pasuk "דַּבֵּר אֶל-אַהֲרֹן וְאֶל-בָּנָיו לֵאמֹר, כֹּה תְבָרְכוּ אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל: אָמוֹר, לָהֶם" meaning "Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: This is how you must bless the Israelites". <ref>Bamidbar 6:23</ref> | ||
#The Mitzvah isn’t strictly obligatory, but rather a Mitzvah which is an opportunity to fulfill a positive | #The Mitzvah isn’t strictly obligatory, but rather a Mitzvah which is an opportunity to fulfill a positive command, similar to [[Tzitzit]]. <ref>Dvar Avraham 1:31 </ref> | ||
#The Ashkenazic minhag outside [[Israel]] is not to do Birkat Cohanim except at [[Mussaf]] of [[Yom Tov]] because Birkat Cohanim should be done when people are relaxed and not bothered by work. <ref>Rama 128:44 writes that the Ashkenazic minhag outside [[Israel]] is not to do Birkat Cohanim except at [[Mussaf]] of [[Yom Tov]] because Birkat Cohanim should be done when people are relaxed and not bothered by work. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 100:1 agrees. For other reasons to explain the Ashkenazi minhag see Bet Yosef 128 quoting the Sefer Chasidim, Sh”t Zera Emet 3:13, and Sh”t Bet Efraim 6 </ref> Throughout Jewish history, some have made a great effort to change this minhag (in order to fulfill this biblical Mitzvah) and were unsuccessful. <ref>Aruch HaShulchan 128:64 </ref> | #The Ashkenazic minhag outside [[Israel]] is not to do Birkat Cohanim except at [[Mussaf]] of [[Yom Tov]] because Birkat Cohanim should be done when people are relaxed and not bothered by work. <ref>Rama 128:44 writes that the Ashkenazic minhag outside [[Israel]] is not to do Birkat Cohanim except at [[Mussaf]] of [[Yom Tov]] because Birkat Cohanim should be done when people are relaxed and not bothered by work. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 100:1 agrees. For other reasons to explain the Ashkenazi minhag see Bet Yosef 128 quoting the Sefer Chasidim, Sh”t Zera Emet 3:13, and Sh”t Bet Efraim 6 </ref> Throughout Jewish history, some have made a great effort to change this minhag (in order to fulfill this biblical Mitzvah) and were unsuccessful. <ref>Aruch HaShulchan 128:64 </ref> | ||
#Some have the practice not do Birkat Cohanim when [[Yom Tov]] falls out on [[Shabbat]], however, the poskim strongly disapprove of this and urge to discontinue this practice without causing conflict. <ref>Mishna Brurah 128:165, Sh”t Igrot Moshe 3:18, 5:15. See also Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 100:1 who quotes the minhag not to say Birkat Cohanim when [[Yom Tov]] falls out on [[Shabbat]], but says the minhag to say it on [[Yom Tov]] even when it falls out on [[Shabbat]] is the more proper minhag. </ref> | #Some have the practice not do Birkat Cohanim when [[Yom Tov]] falls out on [[Shabbat]], however, the poskim strongly disapprove of this and urge to discontinue this practice without causing conflict. <ref>Mishna Brurah 128:165, Sh”t Igrot Moshe 3:18, 5:15. See also Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 100:1 who quotes the minhag not to say Birkat Cohanim when [[Yom Tov]] falls out on [[Shabbat]], but says the minhag to say it on [[Yom Tov]] even when it falls out on [[Shabbat]] is the more proper minhag. </ref> | ||
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#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> | #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> | ||
#A Cohen below the age of bar mitzvah cannot recite Birkat Cohanim alone, but he may join adult Cohanim.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 128:34 says that the purpose of a Cohen below the age of bar mitzvah going up is to learn and practice. M.B. 128:123 notes that this is different than other mitzvot of chinuch as this is only true if he already knows how to perform Birkat Cohanim according to the custom. | |||
M.B. 128:122 explains that a Cohen below the age of bar mitzvah does not go up alone as it is not respectful to the congregation.</ref> | |||
==When is Birkat Cohanim said?== | ==When is Birkat Cohanim said?== | ||
