Mitzva to Call Out the Pesukim
14. We mentioned at the end of last issue (356, par. 42) that it is a mitzva to call the pesukim out to the Kohanim word by word so that they do not become mixed up, as the posuk says, “אמור להם,” teaching that the chazzan tells them what to say (תוס' ברכות דף ל''ד ד''ה לא יענה ). We will now go through some details regarding the fulfillment of this halacha.
15. Not essential. This calling out of the pesukim is not essential. Thus, if it happens that no one calls them out, the Kohanim can still say Birkas Kohanim (פר''ח סקי''ג, מ''ב סי' קכ''ח סקמ''ט ).
From a Siddur
16. The shliach tzibbur or the member of the tzibbur calling out the pesukim to the Kohanim should specifically use a siddur and not do it by heart. This is to avoid getting mixed up in the order of the brachos (מ''ב שם ).
Calling Out the Word “יברכך ”
17. Not calling it out. Some poskim hold the shliach tzibbur does not call out the word “יברכך” because there is no concern the Kohanim will make a mistake on the first word and there should not be an unnecessary interruption between the bracha and the first word (רמב''ם פי''ד תפילה הי''ד, ב''י ). This is the psak of the Shulchan Aruch (סי''ג ), and the Sephardi minhag. [This is similar to the minhag not to call out to the tokeia for the first tekiah since there is no concern he will get mixed up and it is a potential interruption between the bracha and the blowing (עי' שעה''צ סי' תקפ''ה בדעת הגר''א )].
18. Calling it out. However, many hold the shliach tzibbur also calls out the word “יברכך ” to the Kohanim. This is the minhag of Ashkenazim everywhere (רמ''א שם ) and mekubalim.
Shliach Tzibbur Answering Amen
19. The shliach tzibbur or whoever is calling out to the Kohanim should not answer Amen after the three pesukim of Birkas Kohanim. This is to prevent him from getting mixed up and not being able to accurately call out the second or third posuk of the bracha (שו''ע סי''ט ). This is the Sephardi minhag in all cases.
20. Calling out from a siddur. However, if he is calling out the pesukim from a siddur and is confident he will not make a mistake, he may answer Amen after the three pesukim of bracha (מ''ב סקע''א ). This is the Ashkenazi minhag.
The Procedure
21. It is important for everything to be properly heard by the tzibbur. Thus, care must be taken not to begin saying a word before the previous word is completely finished. We will cite some issues mentioned by the poskim.
22. After they finish Amen after the bracha. The person calling “Kohanim!” should not do so until most of the tzibbur has finished saying Amen to the bracha “הטוב שמך ולך נאה להודות ” (שו''ע סי''ח ומ''ב ס''ק ס''ד ).
23. After he finishes calling “Kohanim!” Similarly, the Kohanim should not start the bracha of “אשר קדשנו וכו'” until the person finishes calling “Kohanim!” (שו''ע שם ).
24. After they finish Amen after the bracha. Similarly, the shliach tzibbur should not start saying “יברכך ” until most of the tzibbur has finished saying Amen to the bracha of “אשר קדשנו וכו'” (מ''ב ס''ק ס''ה). In places where he does not call out the word “יברכך ” (above, 17), the Kohanim should not start saying “יברכך ” until everyone from the tzibbur finishes saying Amen (שו''ע שם ).
25. In places where the tzibbur says “ברוך הוא וברוך שמו ” after the mention of Hashem’s name in Birkas Kohanim, the shliach tzibbur should not continue until the tzibbur finishes.
26. After the shliach tzibbur finishes the word. Similarly, the Kohanim may not begin saying any word of Birkas Kohanim until the shliach tzibbur completely finishes that word. E.g., they should wait until he is completely finished with the word “וישמרך ” before they begin saying “וישמרך .” This is so that the tzibbur will properly hear the word from the Kohanim without the voice of the shliach tzibbur mixing in (שו''ע ומ''ב ס''ק ס''ז ).
27. After the Kohanim finish. Similarly, the shliach tzibbur should not continue with the following word until all the Kohanim finish saying the earlier word so that everyone will hear the Kohanim’s bracha without any other voice mixed in. Similarly, the tzibbur should not say Amen at the end of each posuk before all the Kohanim finish the entire word (שו''ע שם ).
28. The Kohanim should finish together. Since the tzibbur should hear every word from the Kohanim, the Kohanim should finish each word together so as not to cause the tzibbur to say Amen or the shliach tzibbur to begin the next word prematurely while a Kohen is drawing out his bracha. [For this reason too, the Kohen who feels the need to inform the whole tzibbur that he is in shul today should also finish with the other Kohanim...]
