SECTION 121 Laws Relating to the Blessing Modim. (1-3)

קכא דִּינֵי מוֹדִים וּבוֹ ג' סְעִיפִים:

1 We bow at the beginning and end of the blessing Modim,1 as explained in sec. 113[:1]. If one does not bow at [this time], his backbone will become a snake seven years after his death2 (and he will not arise at the Resurrection of the Dead).3

If one should need to spit when reciting Modim, he should not bow until he expels the spittle.

א בְּ"מוֹדִים" שׁוֹחִין תְּחִלָּה וָסוֹף,א,1 כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִימָן קי"ג.ב וּמִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ שׁוֹחֶה בְּ"מוֹדִים"ג – שִׁדְרָתוֹ נַעֲשָׂה נָחָשׁ לְאַחַר ז' שָׁנִים אַחַר מוֹתוֹ2 (וְאֵינוֹ קָם בִּתְחִיַּת הַמֵּתִיםד).3

וְאִם נִזְדַּמֵּן לוֹ רֹק בְּ"מוֹדִים" – לֹא יִשְׁחֶה עַד שֶׁיֵּצֵא הָרֹק:ה

Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch (SIE)

The new layout – with the original text and the facing translation – provides a unique user-friendly approach to studying the Alter Rebbe’s work. An inclusive commentary provides insightful explanations and guidelines for actual practice.

Buy Now More Info

2 If a person says Modim, Modim, this is like saying Shema, Shema, and [accordingly] he should be silenced,4 as stated in sec. 61[:8].

ב הָאוֹמֵר "מוֹדִים מוֹדִים" כְּאוֹמֵר "שְׁמַע שְׁמַע" וּמְשַׁתְּקִין אוֹתוֹ,ו,4 כְּמוֹ שֶׁנִּתְבָּאֵר בְּסִימָן ס"א:ז

3 A person [reciting Shemoneh Esreh] alone should not recite [the passage that includes] the Priestly Blessing, i.e., Elokeinu v’Elokei avoseinu, Barcheinu...,5 for [its recitation] was ordained [only] for congregational prayer, to correspond to the blessing of the people by the kohanim — and this is performed only when there is [a quorum of] ten.6 This is why the sheliach tzibbur, too, does not recite [this passage] in the Afternoon Service, except on a communal fast day. For the Priestly Blessing is not recited during the Afternoon Service, except on a communal fast day, lest [the kohanim] be intoxicated.7 The day before Rosh HaShanah is not considered as a communal fast day.8

If it was customary [in a community] that even an individual praying [alone] should recite this passage at a time appropriate for the Priestly Blessing to be recited, a person doing so should not be rebuked.

ג יָחִיד אֵין לוֹ לוֹמַר "בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים"ח שֶׁהוּא "אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בָּרְכֵנוּ כו'",5 כִּי בְּצִבּוּר נִתְקְנָהט כְּנֶגֶד נְשִׂיאוּת כַּפַּיִם שֶׁאֵינָהּ אֶלָּא בַּעֲשָׂרָה.י,6 וּלְפִיכָךְ אַף הַשְּׁלִיחַ צִבּוּר אֵין אוֹמֵר בְּמִנְחָה אֶלָּא בְּתַעֲנִית צִבּוּר,יא מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין נְשִׂיאַת כַּפַּיִם בְּמִנְחָה אֶלָּא בְּתַעֲנִית צִבּוּר מִשּׁוּם חֲשַׁשׁ שִׁכְרוּת,יב,7 וְעֶרֶב רֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה אֵינוֹ נִקְרָא תַּעֲנִית צִבּוּר.יג,8 וְאִם נָהֲגוּ שֶׁאַף הַיָּחִיד אוֹמְרָהּ בִּזְּמַן הָרָאוּי לִנְשִׂיאוּת כַּפַּיִם – אֵין לִמְחוֹת:יד