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...
Chanukah- Is It Permissible To Store Menorah Oil Under A Bed or Eat Foods From Under A Bed
Chanukah- Is It Necessary To Have 10 People At The Synagogue To Light The Menorah
Tipping the Scales in Our Favor During Aseret Yemeh Teshuba
If One Forgot to Recite “Ha’melech Ha’mishpat” During the Aseret Yemeh Teshuba
Eating Before a Fast Before Dawn
Customs for Aseret Yemeh Teshuba
Asseret Yemeh Teshuba-Reciting Shir HaMa’alot
Ten Days of Repentance: Additions to the Amida, Abinu Malkenu
Avoiding the Attribute of Judgment During the Aseret Yemeh Teshuba
Substituting "Ha'Kel Ha'kadosh" with "Ha'Melech Ha'kadosh" During the Aseret Yemei Teshuva in The Amida and Me’ein Sheva
If a Hazan Mistakenly Recited “Ha’Kel Ha’kadosh” Instead of “Ha’Melech Ha’kadosh”
Repentance During the Period of Aseret Yemeh Teshuba
At What Age is a Person Subject to the Torah’s Punishments?
Aseret Yemeh Teshuba – Reciting “Ose Ha’shalom” In Place of “Ose Shalom”
Aseret Yime Teshuva- The Statement of ‘Kotvenu Be'sefer Zachuyot’ in the Avinu Malkenu
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found