[Avodah] Birkath Kohanim

[Jay F. Shachter]

I am surprised (this is a rhetorical figure, I am not) that no one in
this conversation has yet mentioned that Ashkenazim are not fit to do
birkath kohanim on any day of the year `al pi halakha, because they do
not distinguish between the alef and the `ayin (yes, I know that there
is no `ayin in birkath kohanim, nonetheless this is the undisputed
halakha, undisputed even by the Ashkenazi rishonim).  (Sadly, there is
no equivalent halakha regarding people who write "Birchat Cohanim",
transcribing a kaf like a khaf.)

What I think happened -- and this is not a rhetorical figure, I truly
and honestly think this is what happened -- is that the gdolim in the
Ashkenazi communities knew that they lacked the power to entirely
abolish birkath kohanim in their communities, just as they lacked the
power to abolish the custom of not eating kitniyyoth on Passover,
though there were certainly those who wished they could.  They
abolished birkath kohanim as much as they could, which was every day
of the year except for the festivals, but they lacked the power to
abolish birkath kohanim on the festivals.  Later, a frum explanation
arose that explained it differently, but that should surprise no one.
If Jews were to imitate non-Jewish customs and, e.g., start wearing
costumes on Purim, or, e.g., start eating milkhigs on Shavu`oth, or,
e.g., start postponing their sons' first haircuts till they were
three, I am certain that frum explanations would soon arise explaining
those things too.

               Jay F. ("Yaakov") Shachter
               6424 North Whipple Street
               Chicago IL  60645-4111
                       +1 773 7613784   landline
                       +1 410 9964737   GoogleVoice
                       jay at m5.chicago.il.us
                       http://m5.chicago.il.us

               When Martin Buber was a schoolboy, it must have been
               no fun at all playing tag with him during recess.