[Avodah] new customs

[David Cohen]

R' Eli Turkel:
> ...the custom of some to use only one hand when blessing
> the children only has a mystic support of not combining mercy
> and justice.

Many people have the custom to include Birkas Kohanim in the birkas habanim.

See the lengthy discussion in the Bach at the beginning of Orach Chayim
128.  His conclusion is that one of the factors that might determine whether
or not a non-kohein violates an "isur asseih" by giving Birkas Kohanim is
whether or not he does nesi'as kappayim (and any raising up of both hands
technically qualifies as such).  Using only one hand would avoid this
potential problem.

I heard this point made in a shiur by a major talmid chakham (a RIETS rosh
yeshiva), whom I will gladly identify off-list to anybody who asks.

-- D.C.
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