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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 HaTzion 128:133 </ref> | # The Mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim is biblical (Deoritta) even nowadays in all places at all times. <Ref>Sefer HaChinuch (378), Shaar HaTzion 128:133 </ref> | ||
# 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 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> | ||
# Bircat Cohanim is done in shacharit, musaf, and ne'ilah. It is not done during mincha because perhaps the Cohen drank wine, and a Cohen who is intoxicated may not do bircat Cohanim. <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Bircat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 1</ref> | |||
# Therefore, during a fast day which doesn't have ne'ilah (like tish'a b'av(the ninth of av) or shiv'a asar b'tamuz(the 17th of tamuz) we do bircat Cohanim during mincha <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Bircat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 2</ref> | |||
# The sheliach tzibur should feed the words to the Cohanim, word by word, each repeated by the Cohanim after the sheliach tzibur.<ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Bircat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 3 </ref> | |||
#The congregants should answer "Amen" after each of the three berachot said in bircat Cohanim.<ref>As such: "Yevarechecha H' v'yishmerecha -Amen- Ya'er H' panav elecha v'yichunecha -Amen- Yisa H' panav elecha v'yasem lecha shalom -Amen-. Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Bircat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 3</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>Biur 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>Biur Halacha 128:4 </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. 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> | # 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. 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> | ||
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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 Yechava 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 Yechava Daat 5:14 who defends the minhag to bless one's children with one or two hands. </ref> | ||
# When a Cohen goes up to bless the congregation, it is as if he too is blessed. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 294</ref> | # When a Cohen goes up to bless the congregation, it is as if he too is blessed. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 294</ref> | ||
#There is no bircat Cohanim at night. <ref>Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 339</ref> | |||
==Proper Behavior of the Cohanim== | ==Proper Behavior of the Cohanim== | ||
# 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> | ||
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# If a Yisrael who 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> Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 296 </ref> | # If a Yisrael who 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> 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 </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 </ref> | ||
# There is no worry about saying a "Bracha levatala", a blessing in vain, since they are verses 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 verses in the Torah, which are permitted to say. | ||
#There is a minhag that after bircat Cohanim, the congregants should go to the Cohanim and say "Chazak U'baruch" or "Yashar Koach". Even though they were obligated to do what they did, they still could have made themselves exempt by leaving. Therefore, it is fitting to praise them<ref>Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 338</ref> | |||
==Someone in middle of [[Amidah - Shemonah Esrei|Shemonah Esrei]]== | ==Someone in middle of [[Amidah - Shemonah Esrei|Shemonah Esrei]]== | ||
# Someone who’s in middle of [[Amidah - Shemonah Esrei|Shemonah Esrei]] should stop to listen even if one is in front of the Cohanim, however, according to Sephardim one may continue [[Amidah - Shemonah Esrei|Shemonah Esrei]] but if one wants one may stop to listen in between Brachot. <Ref> | # Someone who’s in middle of [[Amidah - Shemonah Esrei|Shemonah Esrei]] should stop to listen even if one is in front of the Cohanim, however, according to Sephardim one may continue [[Amidah - Shemonah Esrei|Shemonah Esrei]] but if one wants one may stop to listen in between Brachot. <Ref> | ||
