Priestly Blessing (Birkat Kohanim)

Learn all about the Priestly Blessing: Who blesses and when, the preparations, the procedure of the actual blessing, the congregation’s role, and the Kabbalah behind it all.

Question and answers on events in the Parshah, complete with the source verses, so you can see the question inside the text. For Shabbat table discussion

The kohanim remove their shoes and extend their hands, fingers parted and palms stretched outwards; the congregation hide their faces under their prayer shawls. What is the deeper significance of this celestial ritual?

Blanket Of Holiness Enfolds Me Like The Presence Of Shechina (Divine Presence) Covering The Earth… Their Powerful Voices, In Unisons Soar To The Heavens, Opening Gates For The Earthbound Voyager's Entrance,

Throughout history, many societies have had secret, and not-so-secret hand signs. Jews are no different.

In commenting on one of the blessings in the Priestly Benediction, the Talmud reveals an important aspect of the Jew's attitude to Judaism.

The customs of birchat kohanim, the priestly blessings, and their special quality and significance.

On specific holidays the kohanim, the descendants of Aaron, bless the congregation during the morning services.

They were coming. Tens of thousands of them, all ages and nationalities, a spectacular ocean of humanity flowing through the gates of the Old City...

The chazzan reaches the moment, the Kohanim turn around, lower their prayer shawls over their eyes, raise their hands towards the crowd and the Priestly Blessing begins. What an amazing religion we have where certain people have been specifically ...