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Birkat Cohanim: Difference between revisions
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==When is Birkat Cohanim said?== | ==When is Birkat Cohanim said?== | ||
# | # Birkat 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 Birkat Cohanim. <ref>Rambam (Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat 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 | # 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 birkat Cohanim during mincha, since we are not worried about the Cohanim being intoxicated if they are fasting. <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 2</ref> | ||
# There is no | # There is no Birkat Cohanim at night. <ref>Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 339</ref> | ||
# Birkat Cohanim is only said if there is a minyan and the minyan includes the Cohanim. <ref>S"A 128:1, Mishna Brurah 128:2</ref> | # Birkat Cohanim is only said if there is a minyan and the minyan includes the Cohanim. <ref>S"A 128:1, Mishna Brurah 128:2</ref> | ||
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# 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> | ||
# 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> | # 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, > Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U' | # 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, > Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 15, Halacha 11</ref> | ||
#The Cohanim should stand there, facing the heichal, with their backs to the congregation. They hold their fingers closed, against their palms, until the sheliach tzibur completes the blessing of "hatov shimcha". When the shaliach tzibbur calls to them "cohanim", they turn their faces to the people, spread out their fingers, and lift up their hands shoulder high.<ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U' | #The Cohanim should stand there, facing the heichal, with their backs to the congregation. They hold their fingers closed, against their palms, until the sheliach tzibur completes the blessing of "hatov shimcha". When the shaliach tzibbur calls to them "cohanim", they turn their faces to the people, spread out their fingers, and lift up their hands shoulder high.<ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 3, S"A 128:10</ref> | ||
#If only one Cohen is blessing the people, he should turn around after the shaliach tizbbur finishes the bracha of "hatov shimcha" and begin reciting the blessing alone. Afterwards, the sheliach tzibur says the words of birchat 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' | #If only one Cohen is blessing the people, he should turn around after the shaliach tizbbur finishes the bracha of "hatov shimcha" and begin reciting the blessing alone. Afterwards, the sheliach tzibur says the words of birchat 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, S"A 128:10</ref> | ||
#If there are two or more Cohanim present, they do not begin reciting the blessing until the sheliach tzibur calls them, saying the word “Cohanim”. <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U' | #If there are two or more Cohanim present, they do not begin reciting the blessing until the sheliach tzibur calls them, saying the word “Cohanim”. <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 8, S"A 128:10</ref> | ||
#One of the measures ordained by Ezra is that the Cohanim should not ascend to the duchan wearing sandals. Rather, they should stand barefoot<ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U' | #One of the measures ordained by Ezra is that the Cohanim should not ascend to the duchan wearing sandals. Rather, they should stand barefoot<ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 6</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> | ||
# If the sheliach tzibur forgot to do | # 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> | ||
# 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' | # 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, S"A 128:13</ref> | ||
# At the end of | # 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, S"A 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' | # 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, S"A 128:16</ref> | ||
#The Cohanim are not allowed to add any other blessings to the | #The Cohanim are not allowed to add any other blessings to the birkat Cohanim.<ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 12</ref> Doing so constitues "Bal Tosif".<ref>Deuteronomy(Devarim) 4:2</ref> | ||
#When the Cohanim turn their faces to the community to bless them, and when they turn their faces from the community after blessing them, they should turn only to the right. Similarly, any turns which a person makes should always be to the right<ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U' | #When the Cohanim turn their faces to the community to bless them, and when they turn their faces from the community after blessing them, they should turn only to the right. Similarly, any turns which a person makes should always be to the right<ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 13</ref> | ||
#A Cohen who recited the | #A Cohen who recited the birkat Cohanim and went to another synagogue and found the congregation in the midst of prayer, before birkat Cohanim, should partake in that minyan's birkat Cohanim. A Cohen may recite the birkat Cohanim several times during the day.<ref> Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 15, Halacha 11</ref> | ||
==Procedure of Birkat Cohanim for the Shaliach Tzibbur== | ==Procedure of Birkat Cohanim for the Shaliach Tzibbur== | ||
<!-- Regarding the choice of the word "feed" please see the talk page. --> | <!-- Regarding the choice of the word "feed" please see the talk page. --> | ||
# The Sheliach Tzibur should say the words of birkat cohanim one word at a time and the cohen should repeat each word after the shaliach tzibbur. <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U' | # The Sheliach Tzibur should say the words of birkat cohanim one word at a time and the cohen should repeat each word after the shaliach tzibbur. <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 3, S"A 128:13 </ref> | ||
# The Sheliach Tzibbur should say each word to the Cohanim out loud and not quietly. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo 10:15 </ref> If one of the Cohanim didn’t hear a word (even the name of Hashem), the Sheliach Tzibbur should repeat it out loud. <Ref> Halichot Shlomo (pg 133 note 56) </ref> | # The Sheliach Tzibbur should say each word to the Cohanim out loud and not quietly. <Ref>Halichot Shlomo 10:15 </ref> If one of the Cohanim didn’t hear a word (even the name of Hashem), the Sheliach Tzibbur should repeat it out loud. <Ref> Halichot Shlomo (pg 133 note 56) </ref> | ||
# The sheliach tzibur should not answer "Amen" to the blessings of the Cohanim, like the rest of the congregation, for perhaps he will get confused about which beracha he is up to <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U' | # The sheliach tzibur should not answer "Amen" to the blessings of the Cohanim, like the rest of the congregation, for perhaps he will get confused about which beracha he is up to <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 5</ref> | ||
==Proper behavior of the congregation during Birkat Cohanim== | ==Proper behavior of the congregation during Birkat Cohanim== | ||
# Because of the opinion that there is also a mitzvah for the Yisraelim to receive the Bracha if one is in Shul when the Cohanim were called one may not leave until after Birkat Cohanim. <ref> Piskei Teshuvot 128:2 </ref> Even if one already heard Birkat Cohanim that day, it's improper to leave the Shul when the Cohanim get up for Birkat Cohanim. <ref>Kaf HaChaim 128:149 </ref> | # Because of the opinion that there is also a mitzvah for the Yisraelim to receive the Bracha if one is in Shul when the Cohanim were called one may not leave until after Birkat Cohanim. <ref> Piskei Teshuvot 128:2 </ref> Even if one already heard Birkat Cohanim that day, it's improper to leave the Shul when the Cohanim get up for Birkat Cohanim. <ref>Kaf HaChaim 128:149 </ref> | ||
# The Tzibbur should stand during Birkat Cohanim and listen to every word with intent. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 128:51, Tefillah KeHilchata 14:48 </ref> However, a sick or old person may sit during Birkat Cohanim. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 298 </ref> | # The Tzibbur should stand during Birkat Cohanim and listen to every word with intent. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 128:51, Tefillah KeHilchata 14:48 </ref> However, a sick or old person may sit during Birkat Cohanim. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 298 </ref> | ||
# If one is slightly behind the Cohanim one is not included in the Bracha, however, if one is standing directly on the side, one is included in the Bracha, yet, one should face the Cohanim. Even if there is a partition - even an iron wall - between the Cohanim and the people who are being blessed, since they are facing the Cohanim, they are included in the blessing.<ref>S”A 128:24, Biur Halacha D”H Aval, Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U' | # If one is slightly behind the Cohanim one is not included in the Bracha, however, if one is standing directly on the side, one is included in the Bracha, yet, one should face the Cohanim. Even if there is a partition - even an iron wall - between the Cohanim and the people who are being blessed, since they are facing the Cohanim, they are included in the blessing.<ref>S”A 128:24, Biur Halacha D”H Aval, Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 15, Halacha 8</ref> | ||
# If one is in front of the Cohanim one should face east (the front of the Shul). <Ref> Biur Halacha 128:24 D”H Aval </ref> | # If one is in front of the Cohanim one should face east (the front of the Shul). <Ref> Biur Halacha 128:24 D”H Aval </ref> | ||
# One shouldn’t look at the hands of the Cohanim during Birkat Cohanim and so one should face downward <Ref>S”A 128:23 </ref> or cover one’s face with a talit. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 128:92, Tefillah KeHilchata 14:49 </ref> However, nowadays that the Cohanim wear the Talit over their hands one may look at the cohanim. <Ref>Siach Tefillah (Shaar 5, 1:2) [See also Rav Herschel Schacter’s opinion at yu.edu.]. However, the Piskei Teshuvot 128:55 writes that one should still not look at the Cohanim so as not to get distracted. </ref> | # One shouldn’t look at the hands of the Cohanim during Birkat Cohanim and so one should face downward <Ref>S”A 128:23 </ref> or cover one’s face with a talit. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 128:92, Tefillah KeHilchata 14:49 </ref> However, nowadays that the Cohanim wear the Talit over their hands one may look at the cohanim. <Ref>Siach Tefillah (Shaar 5, 1:2) [See also Rav Herschel Schacter’s opinion at yu.edu.]. However, the Piskei Teshuvot 128:55 writes that one should still not look at the Cohanim so as not to get distracted. </ref> | ||
===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 | # The congregants should answer "Amen" after each of the three berachot said in birkat 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'Birkat 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' | # 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'Birkat 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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==Things that prevent a Cohen from doing Birkat Cohanim== | ==Things that prevent a Cohen from doing Birkat Cohanim== | ||
# 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 they all know that he can't pronounce the letters correctly), 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 they all know that he can't pronounce the letters correctly), he may do birkat cohanim. This is the accepted minhag. <Ref> Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 318 </ref> | ||
#Similarly, a stutterer or one who speaks unclearly, whose words cannot be understood by everyone, should not recite birkat Cohanim<ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U' | #Similarly, a stutterer or one who speaks unclearly, whose words cannot be understood by everyone, should not recite birkat Cohanim<ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 15, Halacha 1</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 | # 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 birkat cohanim. <ref>Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 319</ref> | ||
#A Cohen who drank a revi'it of wine at any time should not do | #A Cohen who drank a revi'it of wine at any time should not do birkat Cohanim until the effects of the wine have worn off <ref>Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 15, Halacha 4</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 | # 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 birkat Cohanim. Him and all his descendents are "Challalim" and may not do Birkat Cohanim (because they are not considered Cohanim).<ref>Yalkut Yosef, Tefillah Volume 1, page 322 Rambam, Mishneh Torah: Hilchot Tefillah U'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 15, Halacha 5</ref> | ||
# A sick person who is attatched to a catheter, which holds his urine under his clothing, may do | # A sick person who is attatched to a catheter, which holds his urine under his clothing, may do birkat 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> | ||
==Minhag of thanking Cohanim== | ==Minhag of thanking Cohanim== | ||
# There is a minhag that after | # There is a minhag that after Birkat Cohanim, the congregants should go to the Cohanim and say "Chazak U'baruch" or "Yashar Koach". Even though they (the Cohanim) 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> | ||
# At the conclusion of Birkat Cohanim, some have the practice to thank the cohanim for the Brachot and the cohanim respond Tzivku LeMitzvot. However, some authorities advise avoiding having the Cohanim respond these words. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 128:60, Aruch HaShulchan 128:24, Sh”t Har Tzvi 62 </ref> However, saying Yasher Koach or thank you isn’t an issue. <Ref>Nesiut Kapim KeHilchata (Chap 9 note 53) writes that the Cohanim saying the "Yashar Koach" isn’t an issue. Piskei Teshuvot 128:48 writes that saying "Thank you" isn’t an issue. </ref> | # At the conclusion of Birkat Cohanim, some have the practice to thank the cohanim for the Brachot and the cohanim respond Tzivku LeMitzvot. However, some authorities advise avoiding having the Cohanim respond these words. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 128:60, Aruch HaShulchan 128:24, Sh”t Har Tzvi 62 </ref> However, saying Yasher Koach or thank you isn’t an issue. <Ref>Nesiut Kapim KeHilchata (Chap 9 note 53) writes that the Cohanim saying the "Yashar Koach" isn’t an issue. Piskei Teshuvot 128:48 writes that saying "Thank you" isn’t an issue. </ref> | ||
