DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 570 KB)
How To Do Birkat Kohanim When There Are Only Kohanim Present In Shul

What is the proper procedure for Birkat Kohanim (the priestly blessing) if the congregation consists entirely of Kohanim? Do all the worshippers ascend to recite the Beracha, or do only some of them recite the Beracha?

The Halacha in this case depends on how many people are present in the synagogue. If the Minyan is comprised of only ten Kohanim and nobody else, then they all ascend for the recitation of Birkat Kohanim. Women and children present at the synagogue would answer "Amen" to the Beracha. If there are no women and children in the synagogue, then of course nobody would answer "Amen," but this does not undermine the validity of the Birkat Kohanim.

This situation, of course, gives rise to the interesting question of whom they are blessing, since nobody is present in the synagogue to receive their blessing. The answer is that they bless all other Jews, who are not in attendance in the synagogue. The Kohanim customarily wave their hands side to side at certain points during the recitation of Birkat Kohanim, in effect bestowing the blessing to those beyond the synagogue walls.

If more than ten Kohanim are present (but no non-Kohanim are present), then all the Kohanim go up except 10, to maintain a Minyan.

In all cases, the Chazan (even though he is a Kohen) does not participate in Birkat Kohanim, and instead remains in his place and dictates the Beracha to the other Kohanim.

Summary: If a Minyan consists of only ten people, all of whom are Kohanim, they all recite Birkat Kohanim, except for the Chazan, who stays in his place and dictates the Beracha to the others. If the Minyan consists of more than ten Kohanim but nobody else, all the Kohanim go up, so long as at least 10 stay down.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
In The Event One Forgot To Make Eruv Tavshilin, But Remembered While In Shul Right Before Yom Tov Began
Lighting a Gas Stove on Yom Tob
Carrying on Yom Tob
Is it Permissible to Squeeze Fruits on Yom Tob?
Is it Permissible to Cook for a Gentile on Yom Tob?
The Egg and Bread Set Aside for Erub Tabshilin
Yom Tob Candle Lighting: The Proper Time for Lighting, Reciting the Beracha Before Lighting
If a Person Did Not Recite Habdala on the Night After Yom Tob
Preparing Freshly-Squeezed Juice on Yom Tob
Laundry on Chol Ha'mo'ed
Hol HaMoed- Is It Permissible To Play Instruments, or for Ladies To Take Hair Cuts, or To Put On Make Up On Hol HaMoed
Is It Permissible For A Baal Mitzvah To Take A Hair Cut On Hol Ha’Moed
Is It Permissible To Prepare Floating Wicks on Yom Tov In Preparation for Lighting
Hol Hamoed- Is Writing Permissible on Hol Hamoed
Hol Hamoed- Is It Permissible To Have Your Car Repaired On Hol Hamoed
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found