| The Priestly Blessing (known as 'Birkat Kohanim', | | | | recites the three verse blessing, with the Kohanim |
| literally 'Blessing of the Cohens') is a Jewish prayer | | | | all responding in unison, repeating it word by word |
| which was first recited by Aaron, the High Priest | | | | after him. After each line, the congregation |
| in the Holy Temple and brother of Moses. It was | | | | responds "Amen" |
| instigated at the request of G-d to bless His | | | | During the course of the blessing the Kohanim |
| people on His behalf. | | | | hold the palms of their hands upwards and |
| "And the L-rd spoke to Moses, saying; speak to | | | | outwards, using a special hand gesture. This |
| Aaron and to his sons, saying; so shall you bless | | | | positioning of the fingers and hands form a vessel |
| the children of Israel....they shall place my name | | | | through which G-d can channel his blessing |
| upon the Children of Israel, and I shall bless them." | | | | towards the congregation. The prayer shawl of |
| (Bamidbar/Numbers 6:23-7). | | | | each Kohan is draped over his head and hands so |
| "Aharon raised his hands towards the people and | | | | that neither he not the congregation can see his |
| blessed them..." (Vayikra/Leviticus 9:22). | | | | hands while the blessing is being given. |
| The priestly blessing is: | | | | The Talmud states that it is forbidden to gaze |
| May the Lord bless you and keep you | | | | upon a Kohen during the chanting of the blessing. |
| May the Lord shine His countenance toward you | | | | Some commentators feel that this is because the |
| and be gracious to you | | | | presence of G-d rests upon the Kohen at this |
| May the Lord lift up His countenance toward you | | | | time. It is therefore customary for male |
| and give you peace | | | | members of the congregation to spread their |
| To this day Aaron's descendants (known as | | | | prayer shawls (tallit) over their own heads during |
| Kohanim) are bestowed with the honor of | | | | the blessing so as not look at the Kohanim. If a |
| channeling G-d's blessing to his people during | | | | man has children, they will stand under his prayer |
| certain synagogue services. | | | | shawl to be blessed. Many adults have fond, |
| The priestly blessing is the oldest known Biblical | | | | nostalgic childhood memories of standing beneath |
| text that has been discovered; it was written on | | | | their father's tallit and hearing the chanting of the |
| amulets found in graves in dating from the First | | | | Priestly Blessing. |
| Temple Period. | | | | Female members turn their faces downwards or |
| Judaism permits only Kohanim to perform the | | | | sideways or hold their prayer book in front of |
| Priestly Blessing to a congregation, as part of the | | | | their face in order to hide the Kohanim from their |
| synagogue service. However, the same blessing is | | | | sight. |
| used by parents to bless their children each Friday | | | | With the destruction of the Temple, most Kohanic |
| night before the beginning of the Shabbat meal. | | | | duties became defunct, but the Priestly Blessing |
| In order for the Priestly Blessing to be said in | | | | remained as it was never directly attached to the |
| synagogue, there has to be a 'minyan' present; | | | | Temple. These days there are various customs |
| ten men (including the Kohanim). Prior to | | | | regarding if and when the blessing takes place. |
| performing the priestly blessing the hands and | | | | The custom of many synagogues in the diaspora |
| feet of the Kohanim are washed by a Levi. They | | | | is to perform the Priestly Blessing only on religious |
| then walk in front of the ark (where the Torah | | | | holidays, however in other synagogues it takes |
| scrolls are kept), cover their heads with their | | | | place every Shabbat (Sabbath). Inside Israel and in |
| prayer shawls and say an initial blessing. | | | | Sephardi synagogues it is performed daily. |
| The person leading the prayers then slowly | | | | |