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Birkat Cohanim: Difference between revisions
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==General== | ==General== | ||
# The Mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim is biblical (Deoritta) even nowadays in all places at all times. < | # The Mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim is biblical (Deoritta) even nowadays, in all places at all times. <ref>Sefer HaChinuch (378), Shaar HaTzion 128:131* </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 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 | # 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 (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> | # 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 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 Hashem v'yishmerecha --Amen-- Ya'er Hashem panav elecha v'yichunecha --Amen-- Yisa Hashem panav elecha v'yasem lecha shalom --Amen--. 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 Hashem v'yishmerecha --Amen-- Ya'er Hashem panav elecha v'yichunecha --Amen-- Yisa Hashem 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> 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 </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 </ref> | ||
# Most 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>Biur Halacha 128 intro, Sefer Charedim 12:18, Igrot Moshe 4:21 </ref> | # Most 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>Biur Halacha 128 intro, Sefer Charedim 12:18, Igrot Moshe 4:21 </ref> | ||
