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Birkat Cohanim: Difference between revisions
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==When is Birkat Cohanim said?== | ==When is Birkat Cohanim said?== | ||
# Bircat Cohanim is done in [[Shacharit]], [[Musaf]], and [[Ne'ilah]]. It is not done during | # 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> | ||
#There is no | # There is no Bircat Cohanim at night. <ref>Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 339</ref> | ||
== | ==Cohanim washing their hands before Birkat Cohanim== | ||
# The kohanim need to wash their entire hands for birkat kohanim, even on | # The kohanim need to wash their entire hands for birkat kohanim, even on [[Tisha Be’av]] on which one can’t wash past the knuckles. Only Levim who regularly wash their own hands before washing the kohanim’s, can wash on [[Tisha Be’av]] before washing the kohanims' hands. <ref> [http://www.dailyhalacha.com/Display.asp?ClipID=958 Rabbi Mansour on dailyhalacha.com]</ref> | ||
==Procedure of Birkat Cohanim for the Cohanim== | ==Procedure of Birkat Cohanim for 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 " | # 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> | ||
# Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai instituted that the Cohanim | # Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai instituted that the Cohanim should not go up wearing sandals or any type of shoe, out of respect to the congregation <Ref> Gemara Sotah 40a, S"A 128:5 </ref> | ||
# By the time the Sheliach Tzibur arrives at the blessing of "Retzeh", the Cohanim must make a motion towards doing the mitzvah. If the Sheliach Tzibur finished the blessing of "Retzeh", and said the word "Modim" before a cohen made this motion, that cohen may not go up to do birkat cohanim. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 299</ref> | # By the time the Sheliach Tzibur arrives at the blessing of "Retzeh", the Cohanim must make a motion towards doing the mitzvah. If the Sheliach Tzibur finished the blessing of "Retzeh", and said the word "Modim" before a cohen made this motion, that cohen may not go up to do birkat cohanim. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 299</ref> | ||
# If the only cohen in the tzibur is the Sheliach tzibur, and he is using a siddur and will therefor 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 only cohen in the tzibur is the Sheliach tzibur, and he is using a siddur and will therefor 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> | ||
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# If a person can not pronounce his letters correctly, for example if he says his "Ayin's" like "Alephs" and his "chet's" like "caf's", he is still allowed to do birkat cohanim, because nowadays that is how everyone pronounces them. However if he happens to be in a place where they are very meticulous about correct pronounciation, he should not do birkat cohanim. There are those who say that if a person is in a place that they are meticulous, but all the people know that this person can not pronounce their letters the "corect" way, or if they pronounce it a different way (for example: if an ashkenazi, who has different letter pronunciations, is in a sephardic shul), he may do birkat cohanim. This is the accepted minhag. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 318 </ref> | # If a person can not pronounce his letters correctly, for example if he says his "Ayin's" like "Alephs" and his "chet's" like "caf's", he is still allowed to do birkat cohanim, because nowadays that is how everyone pronounces them. However if he happens to be in a place where they are very meticulous about correct pronounciation, he should not do birkat cohanim. There are those who say that if a person is in a place that they are meticulous, but all the people know that this person can not pronounce their letters the "corect" way, or if they pronounce it a different way (for example: if an ashkenazi, who has different letter pronunciations, is in a sephardic shul), he may do birkat cohanim. This is the accepted minhag. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 318 </ref> | ||
# A Cohen who has a defect, blemish, or deformity, on his face or his hands should not do birkat cohanim, because the people will look at him and be distracted. However if he is "Dash B'Iro", meaning that he is had a blemish for at least 30 days and the whole tzibur knows that he has this blemish, there is no worry that people will look at him, and he may do birkat cohanim. <strong>Nowadays</strong>, since the Cohanim cover themselves with a talit during the blessing, there is no worry that people will look at him, and any Cohen who has a blemish on his hands or face may do bircat cohanim. <ref>Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 319</ref> | # A Cohen who has a defect, blemish, or deformity, on his face or his hands should not do birkat cohanim, because the people will look at him and be distracted. However if he is "Dash B'Iro", meaning that he is had a blemish for at least 30 days and the whole tzibur knows that he has this blemish, there is no worry that people will look at him, and he may do birkat cohanim. <strong>Nowadays</strong>, since the Cohanim cover themselves with a talit during the blessing, there is no worry that people will look at him, and any Cohen who has a blemish on his hands or face may do bircat cohanim. <ref>Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 319</ref> | ||
# A Cohen is forbidden marry a divorcee or a convert. If he does, his child has the title of a "Challal", and this child may not do bircat Cohanim. Him and all his descendents are "Challalim" and may not do | # A Cohen is forbidden marry a divorcee or a convert. If he does, his child has the title of a "Challal", and this child may not do bircat Cohanim. Him and all his descendents are "Challalim" and may not do Bircat Cohanim.<ref>Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 322</ref> | ||
# A sick person who is attatched to a catheter, which holds his urine under his clothing, may do bircat Cohanim as long as his outer clothes are clean, and there is no bad smell coming out of him. <ref>Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 319</ref> | # A sick person who is attatched to a catheter, which holds his urine under his clothing, may do bircat Cohanim as long as his outer clothes are clean, and there is no bad smell coming out of him. <ref>Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 319</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'Bircat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 5</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'Bircat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 5</ref> | ||
# At the end of bircat Cohanim, the Cohanim should not turn back around (so that their backs are facing the congregation), nor should they put their hands down, until the sheliach tzibur begins the beracha of "Sim Shalom" <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Bircat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 6</ref> | # At the end of bircat Cohanim, the Cohanim should not turn back around (so that their backs are facing the congregation), nor should they put their hands down, until the sheliach tzibur begins the beracha of "Sim Shalom" <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Bircat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 6</ref> | ||
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===Answering Amen and Baruch Hu Baruch Shemo=== | ===Answering Amen and Baruch Hu Baruch Shemo=== | ||
# 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> | ||
# | # The congregants should be careful not to answer "Amen" until the cohanim have finished saying the last word of the pasuk. <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Bircat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 5, S”A 128:18, Igrot Moshe 2:31</ref> | ||
# There are various opinions regarding whether one should answer Baruch Hu Baruch Shemo after Hashem’s name in Birkat Cohanim. <Ref>The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Vol 2, pg 379) writes that one may follow one’s customary practice but should do so quietly. See Yachava Daat 4:9. </ref> | # There are various opinions regarding whether one should answer Baruch Hu Baruch Shemo after Hashem’s name in Birkat Cohanim. <Ref>The Weekly Halachah Discussion (Vol 2, pg 379) writes that one may follow one’s customary practice but should do so quietly. See Yachava Daat 4:9. </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> | # 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> | ||
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* Rav Ovadyah Yosef in Sh”t Yabea Omer 7:12 writes that one doesn’t have to stop in middle of [[Amidah - Shemonah Esrei|Shemonah Esrei]] in order to listen to Birkat Cohanim (based on the above two reasons), however, if one wanted to one should do so in between the Brachot. However, Rav Shlomo Zalman in Halichot Shlomo 10:3 writes that in deference to those who hold that there’s also a mitzvah for those being blessing one should stop to listen. | * Rav Ovadyah Yosef in Sh”t Yabea Omer 7:12 writes that one doesn’t have to stop in middle of [[Amidah - Shemonah Esrei|Shemonah Esrei]] in order to listen to Birkat Cohanim (based on the above two reasons), however, if one wanted to one should do so in between the Brachot. However, Rav Shlomo Zalman in Halichot Shlomo 10:3 writes that in deference to those who hold that there’s also a mitzvah for those being blessing one should stop to listen. | ||
* Chazon Ish (Dinim VeHanhagot 4:29), Igrot Moshe 4:21(2), Shevet HaLevi 3:15, and Halichot Shlomo 10:3 (note 18 adds that one should listen from the beginning of the Bracha that the cohanim make before Birkat Cohanim.) all hold that one should stop and listen for Birkat Cohanim. See also Avnei Yishfah (Tefillah pg 205) quoting Rav Elyashiv and Sh”t Teshuvot VeHanhagot 2:77 who say that one shouldn’t stop to listen to Birkat Cohanim. </ref> If one stopped to listen to Birkat Cohanim one should not answer Amen. <Ref> Tefillah KeHilchata 14:51 based on Sh”t Shevet HaLevi 3:15, and the Imrei Yosher in name of the Chazon Ish writes not to answer Amen. Tefillah KeHilchata 14:51 writes that if one is saying [[Amidah - Shemonah Esrei|Shemonah Esrei]] together with the Shaliach Tzibbur one should answer Amen. </ref> | * Chazon Ish (Dinim VeHanhagot 4:29), Igrot Moshe 4:21(2), Shevet HaLevi 3:15, and Halichot Shlomo 10:3 (note 18 adds that one should listen from the beginning of the Bracha that the cohanim make before Birkat Cohanim.) all hold that one should stop and listen for Birkat Cohanim. See also Avnei Yishfah (Tefillah pg 205) quoting Rav Elyashiv and Sh”t Teshuvot VeHanhagot 2:77 who say that one shouldn’t stop to listen to Birkat Cohanim. </ref> If one stopped to listen to Birkat Cohanim one should not answer Amen. <Ref> Tefillah KeHilchata 14:51 based on Sh”t Shevet HaLevi 3:15, and the Imrei Yosher in name of the Chazon Ish writes not to answer Amen. Tefillah KeHilchata 14:51 writes that if one is saying [[Amidah - Shemonah Esrei|Shemonah Esrei]] together with the Shaliach Tzibbur one should answer Amen. </ref> | ||
==Minhag of thanking Cohanim== | ==Minhag of thanking Cohanim== | ||
