[Avodah] Women at Duchenen

[Prof. Levine]

I received the message below from someone on my list who lives in 
Switzerland. Does anyone have any information about it? YL

Dear Prof. Levine,

There is a strange Minhag here in Zurich:

Some women during Duchenen (Birkat Kohanim) on Yom Tov turn to side
(90 degrees) or turn their back to the Kohen (turn of 180 degrees).
I imagine the reason this started is that since the men cover
themselves with the Talit, and women do not have a Talit, some
thought they attain the same purpose, not looking at the Kohanim, by
turning themselves.

But this seems to be a mistake: the covering with the Talit is mainly
for keeping concentration, as explained in the Shulchan Aruch and his
commentaries.

And this Minhag seems to be against Halacha: The Shulchan Aruch OCh
128,23 writes that during Duchenen the listeners and the Kohanim have
to be "face to face". This is based on Rambam Mishne Torah Tefila
14,7, and ultimately on the Gemara Sota 38a.

Do you know of this Minhag? What could it be based on? Or is it a
Minhag Shtus which should be abolished?

Could you ask your audience if someone knows of this Minhag? They
would have to ask their wives - here even the Rabbanim did not know
about it, because they do not look at the Ezrat Nashim, especially
during Duchenen, and nobody ever told them.

Thank you very much.


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