Halachic Highlights

Question: Should a Levi wash a kohen’s hands for Birkas Kohanim where the Levi will miss part of Chazaras HaShatz in the process? What about where the Levi needs to walk in front of a person who is in the middle of his Sh’moneh Esrei?

Question: May a kohen perform Birkas Kohanim by standing in the place where his father normally stands during Birkas Kohanim?

 Short Answer: A kohen should not perform Birkas Kohanim by standing in his father’s set place. However, the kohen may stand next to his father, but his father should ideally stand in the middle of the platform with the son at his side.

Junior Levi Or Adult B’chor?

Question: If there is no adult Levito wash the kohen’s hands for Birkas Kohanim, is it preferable that the kohen’s hands be washed by a Levi child or an adult b’chor (firstborn) Yisrael?

Question: May a kohen walk in front of another person who is in the middle of Sh’moneh Esrei in order to hide his shoes before performing Birkas Kohanim?

Short Answer: While it is important for a kohen to hide his shoes from plain sight when he recites Birkas Kohanim, he should not pass in front of a person reciting Sh’moneh Esrei in order to do so.

Question: Should the kohanim answer “Baruch hu u’varuch sh’mo” at the end of the brachah of L’cha na’eh l’hodos immediately before Birkas Kohanim?

Short Answer: Because the kohanim are in the midst of reciting a Y’hi Ratzon, they should not answer “Baruch hu u’varuch sh’mo” at the end of the brachah of L’cha na’eh l’hodos.

Question: A kohen washes his hands after going to the bathroom in the middle of davening. Must he wash his hands again before Birkas Kohanim?

Short Answer: No, a kohen who uses the bathroom before Birkas Kohanim need only wash his hands one time for both Asher Yatzar and Birkas Kohanim. Ideally, a Levi should be the one who washes the kohen’s hands.