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Hilchos Tefilla 128 (page 8)
מסעיף יא עד סעיף יד
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Which Direction Should the Kohanim Face When Reciting the Beracha?
Raised Hands
Reading the Pesukim
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Which direction should the kohanim face when reciting the beracha?
According to the Mechaber and other
poskim, the
kohanim should face the congregation when they recite the
beracha of "to lovingly bless His nation." Different
poskim hold that the
kohanim should face the front of the shul. The
minhag is to combine both opinions; the
kohanim begin the
beracha facing the front of the shul and then turn around to face the congregation, either before the word
vetzivanu (He commanded us) or before
b'ahavah (lovingly). All the
kohanim in the
minyan should turn before the same word.
(
סעיף יא וס"ק מ; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 58)
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Birkas kohanim is also known as
nesias kapayim-"raised hands"- because the
kohanim must raise their hands to recite the
beracha. If they recite it without raised hands, the obligation is not fulfilled. The
poskim discuss whether they must lift the entire arm or whether it is sufficient for them to lift just their hands. The hands should be raised to shoulder height and the
poskim discuss whether they may be raised higher. The two hands should touch, and the right hand should be held a bit higher than the left hand while they are still connected. The
mitzva is fulfilled even if the right hand was not held higher.
(
סעיף יב וס"ק מג; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 61-62)
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The
pesukim of
birkas kohanim must be read to the
kohanim word by word, preferably from a text. If the
kohanim recite the
beracha without hearing the words first, the
mitzva is fulfilled. According to the Mechaber, it is not necessary to read the first word -
yivarechecha - when more than one
kohein is participating. According to the Rama, the word
yivarechecha is also read to the
kohanim, and this is the prevalent custom. The words should be read to the
kohanim in a loud voice, and it is a mistake that some
chazanim read the words in an undertone.
(
סעיף יג וס"ק מז ו־מט; ביאורים ומוספים דרשו, 64-65)
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- Before birkas kohanim, the kohanim recite a special tefilla asking Hashem to grant the blessing they are about to offer. They recite this prayer after Modim D'rabonon and aim to complete it on time for the Amein following the chazan's beracha of Modim.
- The Sefardic custom is that the chazan invites the kohanim to begin by announcing "kohanim." In many Ashkenazic [and Yemenite] circles, someone other than the chazan makes the announcement.
- A kohein should not give the blessing if he despises a member of the congregation or if a member of the congregation despises him. This is based on a quote from the Zohar which states that it is dangerous for a kohein to bless someone he hates. If the kohein or other individual cannot control his feelings, he should leave the shul before the chazan begins Retzei.
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- Birkas kohanim in a normal voice
- The beracha should be recited independently
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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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