Different Ways to Call to the Kohen
24. We mentioned (Issue 355, par. 7) that Kohanim are only obligated to go up for Birkas Kohanim if a Yisroel (שו''ע סכ''ב) calls upon them to give the bracha, as is seen from the Targum on the posuk of “אמור להם,” i.e., “כד יאמרון להון.” This shows that Kohanim are only obligated to give the bracha when they are told to (סוטה לח :, תוס' ברכות דף ל''ד, שו''ע סי' קכ''ח ס''ב ומ''ב סק''ט). There are multiple minhagim as to how to perform this call, as will be explained.
25. אלוקנו ואלוקי אבותינו. In some places, the shliach tzibbur says “אלוקנו ואלוקי אבותנו וכו'” in an undertone, and then when he reaches the word “Kohanim,” he raises his voice and calls out “Kohanim!” out loud. With this, he calls upon the Kohanim to give a bracha (טור בשם ר''י, רמ''א ס''י). This is the minhag of Chassidim in Eretz Yisroel.
26. Others say the whole nusach out loud, as it is part of the nusach of the tefilla. However, one should change his tone when he reaches the word “Kohanim” to show he is not merely continuing to read the nusach, but he is actually calling the Kohanim up for the bracha (ליקוטי מהרי''ח ח''ג מנהגי יום הפסח, שערי זבולון שער ז' פ''ז).
27. Shliach tzibbur calls “Kohanim!” Some have the minhag that the shliach tzibbur does not say אלוקנו ואלוקי אבותנו. That is only for when there are no Kohanim to give the bracha; when there are Kohanim, the shliach tzibbur does not say it at all (דיעה ראשונה ברמ''א שם). Instead, the shliach tzibbur waits for the tzibbur to finish answering Amen to “ולך נאה להודות,” and then he calls “Kohanim!” It is not an interruption in the tefilla since it is for the purpose of the tefilla (מ''ב סקל''ד).
28. Someone in the tzibbur calls “Kohanim!” Some have the minhag that the shliach tzibbur does not call the Kohanim out of concern it might be an interruption in the tefilla. Instead, someone from the tzibbur calls “Kohanim!” It is proper for it to be a distinguished person or someone involved in communal affairs (ביאור הגר''א על השו''ע, מעשה רב סעי' קס''ח, חיי אדם כלל ל''ב סט''ו, שו''ת תשובות והנהגות ח''ב סי' ק''י).
Only Calling Two or More Kohanim
29. The chiyuv to call the Kohanim is only when there are two or more Kohanim. There is no chiyuv to call a lone Kohen coming up for Birkas Kohanim, as the posuk says, “אמור להם,” implying two (שו''ע ס''י, מ''ב שם). Thus, if there is only one Kohen, the shliach tzibbur should not say אלוקנו ואלוקי אבותינו or the word “Kohanim.” Instead, the Kohen should begin the bracha as soon as the tzibbur finishes answering Amen to “ולך נאה להודות.”
