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Birkat Cohanim: Difference between revisions
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# Even though they already did [[Netilat Yadayim]] that morning, during the Chazara, the Cohanim must wash their hands all the way to their wrists, except in extenuating circumstances (i.e. if they would have to pass in front of someone praying Amidah <Ref>Yalkut Yosef [[Tefillah]] Volume 2, Siman 128, Seif 25, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano volume 1 page 117</Ref>, when they may rely on the original Netilah if they had washed their hands up to their wrists and kept them clean since.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 128:6, Mishna Brurah 128:19</ref> On [[Yom Kippur]] and Tisha B’Av, however, one cannot rely on the minimal morning washing of the fingers alone and must wash his hands to the wrists.<ref>Chazon Ovadia: Yamim Noraim page 312</ref> | # Even though they already did [[Netilat Yadayim]] that morning, during the Chazara, the Cohanim must wash their hands all the way to their wrists, except in extenuating circumstances (i.e. if they would have to pass in front of someone praying Amidah <Ref>Yalkut Yosef [[Tefillah]] Volume 2, Siman 128, Seif 25, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano volume 1 page 117</Ref>, when they may rely on the original Netilah if they had washed their hands up to their wrists and kept them clean since.<ref>Shulchan Aruch 128:6, Mishna Brurah 128:19</ref> On [[Yom Kippur]] and Tisha B’Av, however, one cannot rely on the minimal morning washing of the fingers alone and must wash his hands to the wrists.<ref>Chazon Ovadia: Yamim Noraim page 312</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> | # 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> | ||
# The Cohanim who are going to say Birkat Cohanim must remove their shoes, whether or not they are leather. <Ref> Gemara Sotah 40a writes that Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai instituted that the Cohanim should not go up wearing sandals or any type of shoe for two reasons: 1) out of respect to the congregation not to go before them with dirty shoes and 2) so that a Cohen doesn't have to tie his shoes during Birkat Cohanim and then appear as if he's a Pasul Cohen. This halacha is codified in Rambam 14:6 and Shulchan Aruch 128:5. Chida in Machzik Bracha 128:7 writes that this halacha applies even to non-leather shoes. Kaf HaChaim 128:28, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano volume 1 page 117, and Halacha Brurah 128:16 agree. </ref>However, those communities in Chutz LeAretz who have a minhag not to remove their shoes if they say Birkat Cohanim from the floor without going up on the duchan have what to rely on.<ref>Yafeh Lelev 128:29 is lenient for Cohanim to wear shoes if they don't go up on the duchan. (See | # The Cohanim who are going to say Birkat Cohanim must remove their shoes, whether or not they are leather. <Ref> Gemara Sotah 40a writes that Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakai instituted that the Cohanim should not go up wearing sandals or any type of shoe for two reasons: 1) out of respect to the congregation not to go before them with dirty shoes and 2) so that a Cohen doesn't have to tie his shoes during Birkat Cohanim and then appear as if he's a Pasul Cohen. This halacha is codified in Rambam 14:6 and Shulchan Aruch 128:5. Chida in Machzik Bracha 128:7 writes that this halacha applies even to non-leather shoes. Kaf HaChaim 128:28, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch of Rav Rephael Baruch Toledano volume 1 page 117, and Halacha Brurah 128:16 agree. </ref>However, those communities in Chutz LeAretz who have a minhag not to remove their shoes if they say Birkat Cohanim from the floor without going up on the duchan have what to rely on.<ref>Yafeh Lelev 128:29 is lenient for Cohanim to wear shoes if they don't go up on the duchan. (See Yechave Daat 2:13 for many others who agree). Although Kaf HaChaim 128:107 disagrees, Halacha Brurah 128:17 says that there's what to rely upon. Yechave Daat 2:13 writes that one who finds it hard to take off their shoes may do birkat cohanim from the floor (not the bima) so as not to lose this mitzvah entirely, however, those who want to fulfill mitzvot in the best way should remove their shoes. </ref> | ||
# The shoes should be left in a hidden place or even under a chair less than ten [[Tefachim]] (~2.5ft) off the ground in order to preserve the sanctity of the Beit HaKnesset.<ref>Kaf HaChaim 128:30 in the name of the Kenesset HaGedolah (middle of the footnote), Ohr Letzion volume 2, 45:40, See Halacha Brurah 128:19 that explains that they should really be left outside the synagogue sanctuary.</ref> | # The shoes should be left in a hidden place or even under a chair less than ten [[Tefachim]] (~2.5ft) off the ground in order to preserve the sanctity of the Beit HaKnesset.<ref>Kaf HaChaim 128:30 in the name of the Kenesset HaGedolah (middle of the footnote), Ohr Letzion volume 2, 45:40, See Halacha Brurah 128:19 that explains that they should really be left outside the synagogue sanctuary.</ref> | ||
# When the Cohanim put back on their shoes, they shouldn't touch their shoes. If they touch their shoes, they have to wash [[Netilat Yadayim]].<ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 100:16</ref> | # When the Cohanim put back on their shoes, they shouldn't touch their shoes. If they touch their shoes, they have to wash [[Netilat Yadayim]].<ref>Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 100:16</ref> | ||
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# 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 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'Birkat Cohanim, Chapter 14, Halacha 5, S”A 128:18, Igrot Moshe 2:31</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'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 | # 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 Yechave Daat 4:9. </ref> | ||
# Someone who’s in middle of [[Shmoneh Esrei]] should stop to listen even if one is in front of the Cohanim, however, according to Sephardim one may continue [[Shmoneh Esrei]] but if one wants one may stop to listen in between [[Brachot]]. <Ref> | # Someone who’s in middle of [[Shmoneh Esrei]] should stop to listen even if one is in front of the Cohanim, however, according to Sephardim one may continue [[Shmoneh Esrei]] but if one wants one may stop to listen in between [[Brachot]]. <Ref> | ||
* The Gemara Sotah 40a tells us that one shouldn’t say Pesukim while the Cohanim are blessing the people because it’s disrespectful to ignore the [[blessings]] being said. This is codified in Shulchan Aruch 128:26. However, this may be different considering that one is involved in [[Davening]] and there’s no mitzvah to stop [[Davening]] to listen rather the principle of Osek BeMitzvah Patur Min HaMitzvah (one who is involved in a mitzvah should continue that mitzvah) comes into effect. | * The Gemara Sotah 40a tells us that one shouldn’t say Pesukim while the Cohanim are blessing the people because it’s disrespectful to ignore the [[blessings]] being said. This is codified in Shulchan Aruch 128:26. However, this may be different considering that one is involved in [[Davening]] and there’s no mitzvah to stop [[Davening]] to listen rather the principle of Osek BeMitzvah Patur Min HaMitzvah (one who is involved in a mitzvah should continue that mitzvah) comes into effect. | ||
