[Avodah] Birkas Kohanim and You

[Professor L. Levine via Avodah]

From

http://ohr.edu/this_week/insights_into_halacha/4925


Note the reference to followers of Shabtai Zvi below.

Unsuccessful in Chu"l

In Chutz La'aretz, although many Sefardic congregations do indeed Duchen every day[2]<http://ohr.edu/4925#_edn2>, on the other hand, among Ashkenazic Kehillos, this unique service is relegated to Mussaf on Yom Tov as per the Rema's ruling (Orach Chaim 128, 44)[3]<http://ohr.edu/4925#_edn3>.


It is well known that many Gedolim including the Vilna Gaon, the Shulchan Aruch HaRav, Rav Chaim Volozhiner, the Netziv, and Rav Nosson Adler tried unsuccessfully to reinstate the minhag to perform Birkas Kohanim in Ashkenazic Kehillos on a daily basis[4]<http://ohr.edu/4925#_edn4>. The Aruch Hashulchan states that it is as if a Heavenly voice proclaimed not to do Birkas Kohanim on a daily basis outside of Eretz Yisrael and considers it a Decree from Above. In fact, the Beis Efraim[5]<http://ohr.edu/4925#_edn5> vigorously defends the common practice in Chutz La'aretz not to duchen daily, and maintains that it is an ancient custom as well, dating back to the Maharam m'Rottenberg, and is a minhag kavua that can not be changed. He cites many proofs to this and questions the validity of duchening daily, even in Eretz Yisrael. He adds an interesting note from Rav Yaakov Sasportas that one of the minhagim that the followers of the false messiah Shabtai Zvi practiced was to duchen daily. Come what may, not duchening in Chutz La'aretz on a daily basis has since become standard Ashkenazic practice.


On the other hand, in most parts of Eretz Yisrael[6]<http://ohr.edu/4925#_edn6>, and especially in Yerushalayim, we (Ashkenazim included!) are fortunate to be able to receive this unique bracha every day, and on Shabbos and Yom Tov (and on fast days!) even more than once.


See the above URL for more.


YL

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