The Reshash in Maseches Sheviis (4:2) brings a Mishnah as the source for the widespread custom of thanking the Kohanim (Y’asher Koach!) individually upon the conclusion of their reciting Birkas Kohanim. This is, in fact, brought in halachah by virtue of the fact that they are instructed to remain on the “platform” until after the conclusion of the Shemoneh Esrei (the Mishnah Berurah writes until after the conclusion of kaddish following Shemoneh Esrei). This is because the congregation is supposed to give them a “Y’asher Koach” and we would not be allowed to do that in the middle of the repetition of Shemoneh Esrei or kaddish.
Why is this the custom? After all, the Kohen is obligated to recite Birkas Kohanim. If a Kohen is called up to “duchen” and he ignores the call, he is mevatel a Mitzvas Aseh! Y’asher Koach? Y’asher Koach for what? When we put on tefillin in the morning, no one comes over to us and says “Y’asher Koach!” I need to put on tefillin. I need to recite krias shema. I need to sit in the Succah. We are not accustomed to receiving complements for doing what we are commanded to do!
The answer is that Birkas Kohanim is not merely the Kohen getting up there and reciting those three pesukim. One of the requirements of this mitzvah is to say it “b’ahava u’b’lev shalem” (with love and with complete sincerity). I assume that Kohanim get in bad moods just like the rest of us, and I assume that Kohanim may have things going on in their lives at times that make them not very happy. A Kohen needs to get up there in front of Klal Yisroel and say “I want for you that you should have an abundance of parnassah, that you should be healthy and strong, that all your needs should be taken care of” – even though the Kohen himself may be facing bankruptcy, may be facing illness, or may be facing anything. If he can’t come through and deliver that blessing “with love” he has not fulfilled his mitzvah. I am not giving him a “Y’asher Koach” just because he fulfilled his mitzvah by rote. Doing it right can take a lot of effort.
I think, rabosai, that this is a lesson for us. Sometimes we go to a simcha and we are not in the best of moods. Sometimes we go to a simcha and it perhaps bothers us that the sun is shining so brightly on the ba’al simcha, far more than we feel it is shining upon ourselves. His children are getting great shidduchim. He has such a wonderful job. Everything is going great for him. In the meantime, we are suffering.
When we go to such a simcha, there are two ways of giving Mazal Tov. We can give a perfunctory Mazal Tov wish, but our demeanor may reveal the envy and jealousy that we are feeling. Or we can give a sincere “Mazal Tov! I feel so happy for you! Boruch Hashem!” Anyone who has been in that situation knows that this is sometimes a very difficult thing to do. It is not easy for a person to raise himself above his own personal tzores and to give Mazal Tov with a “full heart.”
R’ Frand relates: I once heard from Rav Matisyahu Solomon that a person who does not participate in the trials and tribulations of his friend – empathizing and commiserating with him – is a rasha (wicked person). But sincerely participating in someone else’s simcha requires the person to be a malach (angel).
This is the “Y’asher Koach” that we give to the Kohanim: Great Job that you were able to convey this blessing “b’ahava” (with love). No matter what was going on in your life, you raised yourself above that and looked beyond yourself. The lesson for us is that when we need to give berachos and Mazel Tovs, we should also do it b’lev shalem and try to raise ourselves up beyond our own personal issues, whatever they may be. (R’ Frand)
