Birkat Kohanim- Every Day in
In
many other parts of
(excluding certain cities in the north who only have the custom on Shabbat) we
are blessed by the Kohanim every day.
In Chutz LaAretz (outside of
Priestly Blessing) is only recited on the Shalosh Regalim- Pesach, Shavuot,
Sukkot and Yom Kippur.
The Sefer HaChinuch states that the Mitzvah of Birkat
Kohanim, where the Kohanim bless the Jewish people at Shacharit, Musaf and
Neilah is in force everywhere, at every time.
Why isn’t Birkat Kohanim recited every day or at least on
Shabbat in Chutz LaAretz?
Over the years of Galut (exile), different issues arose
which prevented or deterred the Kohanim from performing Birkat Kohanim. Some of
the questions that came up were: Are the Kohanim pure enough? Are they really
Kohanim or did they lose their lineage? Is there enough Kavanah (intent) during
the Tefila? Can Jews in Galut be happy on a regular basis or are they too concerned
with making a living and are therefore only happy on the holidays?
Rabbi Aryeh Tzvi Frummer z”tl, h”yd (1884-1943), Rosh
Yeshiva of Yeshivat Chochmei Lublin who was killed in the Holocaust wrote in
his work Eretz HaTzvi that according to the Talmud, Eruvin, the Kohen can’t
perform Birkat Kohanim if he is drunk. When one is in exile, it is as if they
are drunk since their thoughts are all confused. It would therefore not be
proper for them to lead Birkat Kohanim. However, on Yom Tov they are in a state
of happiness and are not involved in the confusion of exile so leading Birkat
Kohanim on the holidays would not be a problem.
Can those who are not in shul or not even in
from the daily Birkat Kohanim that is recited on behalf of Am Yisrael?
We learn in the Talmud, Sotah 38b: Adda said in the name of
Rabbi Simlai: In a shul whose attendance consists of only Kohanim, all of the
Kohanim ascend to recite Birkat Kohanim. The Gemara asks: To whom is their
blessing addressed if no other congregants are present? Rabbi Zeira said: It is
addressed to their brothers who are working in the fields and therefore can’t
come to shul.
Even though Birkat Kohanim is not recited in Chutz La’Aretz
aside from on the holidays, the Jews throughout the world who can’t move to
Israel for whatever reason or the Jews in Israel who are unable to attend
services every day due to health or work related issues may still be included
in the blessings of the Kohanim in Jerusalem every day.
How ironic that a Charedi rabbi who lives in
suggests that Jews who live in Chutz La’Aretz should ask a Kohen in
mind during Birkat Kohanim. If we didn’t have the State of Israel would Kohanim
really be able to pray freely on behalf of Am Yisrael?
Sometimes we take the fact that we have the State of Israel
and the united city of
for granted, another reason why we need the blessings of the Kohanim.
The last words of Birkat Kohanim state: “Viyasem lecha
Shalom”, May God establish peace for you.
On this Yom Yerushalayim we pray that
that the different Jewish communities within
another.
