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Birkat Cohanim: Difference between revisions
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==The Mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim Nowadays== | ==The Mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim Nowadays== | ||
#The Mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim is biblical (Deorayta), in all places at all times (even nowadays).<ref>Sefer HaChinuch (378), Shaar HaTziyun 128:131*, Yalkut Yosef ([[Tefillah]] vol 2, pg 217), Shu"t Mishkenot Yaakov 66. </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 of Birkat Cohanim is biblical (Deorayta), in all places at all times (even nowadays).<ref>Sefer HaChinuch (378), Shaar HaTziyun 128:131*, Yalkut Yosef ([[Tefillah]] vol 2, pg 217), Shu"t Mishkenot Yaakov 66. Rambam (Mitzvah Aseh 26) and Chinuch 378 describe the mitzvah as a mitzvah that applies to Cohanim once a day every day. However, Yereyim 269, Smag 20, and Smak 113 write that the mitzvah is specifically when the Cohanim are called upon to do Birkat Cohanim. </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> | ||
#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 writes that 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. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 100:1 agrees. 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> | #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 writes that 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. Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 100:1 agrees. 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 to 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. See also Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 100:1 who quotes the minhag not to say Birkat Cohanim when [[Yom Tov]] falls out on [[Shabbat]], but says the minhag to say it on [[Yom Tov]] even when it falls out on [[Shabbat]] is the more proper minhag. </ref> | #Some have the practice to 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. See also Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 100:1 who quotes the minhag not to say Birkat Cohanim when [[Yom Tov]] falls out on [[Shabbat]], but says the minhag to say it on [[Yom Tov]] even when it falls out on [[Shabbat]] is the more proper minhag. </ref> | ||
#Many poskim hold that the mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim is only derabbanan if there is only one Cohen.<ref>Tur 128:4 quotes Rabbenu Peretz as holding that if there aren't two cohanim Birkat Cohanim is only derabbanan. Tur disagrees. Bet Yosef adds that Smak and Hagahot Maimoni agree with the Rabbenu Peretz. Biur Halacha 128:25 is concerned for the opinion of Rabbenu Peretz. </ref> If a Cohen is the only Cohen in the minyan and there's another minyan nearby with only one Cohen, some say that if the minyan he's at wants him to do Birkat Cohanim for them he can stay where he is.<ref>Rabbi Belsky (Shulchan Halevi 2:14) writes that even though some poskim hold that Birkat Cohanim is only deoritta when recited with two Cohanim, so perhaps he should go to the other minyan in order to do Birkat Cohanim with two Cohanim. However, he concludes based on Shabbat 118b that since the congregations wants him to do Birkat Cohen he may do so in order to fulfill their wishes. </ref> | |||
==Upon whom is the mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim?== | ==Upon whom is the mitzvah of Birkat Cohanim?== | ||
