Birkat HaKohanim
1. Halakhah
2. Brakhot
3. Beth Meyer Minhagim (traditions)
4. Kohen Hand Sign
1. Halakhah
The first mention of Birkat HaKohanim is in Parshat Shemini. (Leviticus; 9:22):
"Aharon raised his hands toward the people and blessed them" Aharon completed his
first day of service in the Sanctuary and he then blessed the people with great joy. Such was
his desire to bless the people that God rewarded him and his descendants that they should
bless the Jewish People thus throughout the generations.
The actual reference to the Birkat HaKohanim is in Parshat Naso. (Numbers; 6:24-27):
And God spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and to his sons, saying: Thus shall
you bless the children of Israel; say to them: "May God bless you and keep you. May
God make His face shine upon you, and give you grace. May God lift up His face to
you and give you peace." So shall they put My name upon the children of Israel, and
I will bless them.
In order to say the Priestly Blessing, there must be a minyan present and the Kohanim are
included as part of the ten.
The Kohanim remove their shoes prior to doing the Priestly Blessing. ( Exodus; 3:5):
"Remove your shoes from your feet, for the place on which you stand is holy
ground."
It is necessary for the Kohanim to have their hands washed up to the wrists, three times on
each hand (right hand first then left hand), prior to the Priestly Blessing. It is customary that
the Levites wash the hands of the Kohanim by pouring water. No blessing is recited for this
washing.
According to halakhah, a Kohen who has caused the death of another may not participate in
the blessing.
2. Brakhot
a. Upon hearing the hazzan call “Kohanim” recite:
כָּאָ מוּר, ֶעַם קְ דוֹשׁ
Am kedoshecha ka’amor
Your holy people, as it is said…
Baruch atah adonai eloheinu melech ha’olam
Blessed are you Adonai, our God, Ruler of the Universe
Asher kid’shanu bik’dushato shel Aharon
For consecrating us with Aharon’s sanctity
Vi’tzivanu levarech et amo yisrael
And commanding us to bless your people Israel
B’ahava
In love
The priestly blessing.
Repeat the words of the chazzan with pauses at each | (vertical bar).
(Ai, Ai, Ai) is the chant sung before the last word of each line is repeated by the
Kohanim.
Y'varekh'kha | adonai | (Ai, Ai, Ai) 'yeeshm'rekha
May God bless you and keep you
Ya'ayr | adonai | panav | 'aylekha | Ai, Ai, Ai) vekhooneka.
May God shine God’s face upon you and be gracious to you
Yeesa' | adonai | panav | 'aylekha | v'yasaym | l'kha | (Ai, Ai,
Ai) shalom.
May God lift up God’s face upon you and grant you peace
3. Beth Meyer Minhagim (traditions)
When the Kohanim or B’not Kohen (daughters of Kohanim - both indicated as Kohanim for the rest of
this document) are called by the hazzan they go to the kitchen where they remove their shoes. Some also
remove their leather belts.
Levites of the congregation come forward to wash the Kohanim’s hands in the sink pouring water over each
hand three times using a pitcher or other container.
The Kohanim then wrap themselves in their tallitot, covering their hands so that their washed hands don’t
come in contact with people or objects.
The Kohanim return to the sanctuary without talking to anyone and wait along the southern wall until the
hazzan or Rabbi calls them up to the bimah.
The Kohanim should bring their siddurim with them and place them on one of the seats on the bimah so
they can use it after the duchening to sing HaYom HaYom.
On the bimah, the Kohanim face the Ark, touch the Ark cover with their tallitot, kiss the Tallit and cover
their heads with it, facing the Ark.
The Kohanim extend their arms under their tallitot at shoulder height and form the hand sign of the
Kohanim with both hands forming a platform (duchen) on which the Shechinah (God’s presence) can rest
for the blessing.
When the hazzan calls “Kohanim”, the Kohanim turn clockwise to face the congregation while saying “Am
kedoshecha ka’amor”
Facing the congregation (under their tallitot) the Kohanim recite the brakhah (see above) in unison.
The Kohanim then repeat each word of the Yiverechecha as called by the hazzan except for the last word
in each sentence.
The special melody is chanted following the hazzan’s call of the last word of each sentence.
The melody concludes with the Kohanim’s repetition of the last word of the sentence.
The sequence is then repeated with each word and sentence of the blessing until the final word, “Shalom”.
After the final “Shalom”, the Kohanim turn clockwise back to the Ark and remove their tallitot from over
their heads.
The Ark is opened for singing “HaYom HaYom”.
The Kohanim stay on the bimah and join the chazzan for “HaYom HaYom”.
After “HaYom HaYom” the Kohanim kiss each Torah with their tallitot, back away from the Ark, and walk
backward down the steps.
The Ark is closed.
4. Kohen Hand Sign
The Sign of the Priestly Blessing
Of all the Jewish hand signs, the most famous is that of the priestly blessing, and yet it is rarely seen. This is the
sign of both hands outstretched at shoulder height under a tallit, with the fingers spread apart, as the Kohen
blesses the congregation. The Kohen's face is covered. The hands in the position of the priestly blessing are
often seen as decoration on jewelry or on the tombstone of a Kohen.
The hands are held with the fingers straight ahead with the little finger and ring finger of each hand held
together and separated from the middle and index fingers. The middle and index fingers are held together and
separated from the thumb. The palms are face downwards. This raising of the hands during the blessing is called
the nesiat kapayim.
