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Someone who forgot to count one night
The Mechaber writes that one who neglected to count at night may count in the morning without a beracha. The Mishnah Berurah adds that he may then continue counting the rest of the nights with a beracha. Someone who neglected to count one full day cannot continue to count with a beracha. The Kaf Hachaim offers a suggestion to help people who forgot to count at night. Every morning after Shacharis the chazan should announce the previous night's count and the whole congregation should repeat it after him. Those who forgot to count at night will thus be able to continue counting the rest of the omer with a beracha.
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Hilchos Tefilla 128 (page 19)
מאמצע סעיף מד נהגו עד אמצע סעיף מה והמקרא
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The Daily Mitzva of Birkas Kohanim
The Custom of the Rama
Turning During the Beracha
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The daily mitzva of birkas kohanim
It is a
mitzva mid'oraisa for the
kohanim to bless
Klal Yisrael daily. This
mitzva applies both in Eretz Yisrael and outside of it, and at all times. Most communities in Eretz Yisrael and some in other countries practice this
mitzva every day. Many communities in
chutz la'aretz and some in the northern part of Eretz Yisrael do not recite the
beracha daily, but only during
Mussaf of Yom Tov. According to some
poskim, Jews from
chutz la'aretz who come to Eretz Yisrael and form their own
minyanim and the Jews of the northern areas should preserve their original custom and recite the
beracha only during the Yom Tov
Mussaf. Likewise, there is an opinion that new congregations founded by Jews from Eretz Yisrael in the north of Eretz Yisrael or in
chutz la'aretz should recite the blessing in accordance with the local custom.
(
סעיף מד, ס"ק קסד, והגהה לרמ"א; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 169 ו־170)
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According to the Rama, only joyous people may recite
birkas kohanim. On most days, people are overwhelmed by thoughts about making a living and are not sufficiently happy to recite the prayer, whereas on Yom Tov people are glad enough to recite the blessing. According to other authorities, the prayer is not said on a daily basis because it will delay people from going to work and because non-Jews are present in the shuls. The
minhag in most communities outside of Eretz Yisrael follows the Rama. On Yom Kippur, most communities outside of Eretz Yisrael recite
birkas kohanim only during
Mussaf, but in some communities it is said during
Shacharis and
Neila as well.
(
סעיף מד וס"ק קסו; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 172)
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Turning during the beracha
The
kohanim turn to their right and left to spread the
beracha to all those present when enunciating:
yevarechecha,
v'yishmerecha,
eilecha,
vi'chunecha,
eilecha,
lecha and
shalom. When saying these seven words, they draw out the final syllable. These words were chosen because each of them (except
lecha) completes a distinct
beracha (e.g.
yevarechicha-He should bless you) and each directly addresses the audience (aside from
shalom).
(
סעיף מה וס"ק קסח, קע ו־קעב; וראה מגן אברהם ס"ק עב ומפרשיו)
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- According to the Mechaber, an avel can recite the beracha during the year of mourning for a parent or the thirty days for other relatives. According to the Rama, he may not.
- Some have the custom that birkas kohanim and the prayer E-lokeinu vE-lokei Avoseinu recited in lieu of birkas kohanim are not recited in a house of mourning. Others have the custom that both are recited in a house of mourning.
- The poskim discuss the conditions under a kohein who is a doctor would be permitted to attend patients in a hospital.
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- Using the services of a kohein
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PLEASE NOTE: The information in this email is for learning purposes only. Please review the Mishna Berura and Biurim U'Musafim before making a halachic decision. Hebrew words are occasionally transliterated to enable a smoother reading of the text. Common Ashkenazi pronunciation is generally used in these cases.
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