Nusach of the Bracha
5. The bracha ends, “וצונו לברך את עמו ישראל באהבה.” Many wonder: What is the source for this wording? We do not find any other mitzva which is conditional on being done with love, so much so that it is part of the very wording of the bracha (באר "ש סוטה ל''ט ד''ה לברך, מהר י ''ץ חיות שם).
Can Only Bentch All of Klal Yisroel with Love
6. As a source for the wording of the bracha, the poskim (מג"א סי' קכח, י''ח) cite the Zohar which says a Kohen who does not love the people or is not loved by the people cannot do Birkas Kohanim. A precondition for bentching Klal Yisroel is that it has to be with love. If a Kohen wants to bentch Klal Yisroel—which is made up of varying stripes and types—and include everyone together, the only glue he can use for this is the glue of unconditional love.
7. Like Aharon HaKohen. Similarly, we find that Aharon HaKohen “loved peace and pursued peace.” That is why only he was zocheh to have all of Klal Yisroel, not just a segment, mourn him after his death, as the posuk says, “ויבכו את אהרן שלשים יום כל בית ישראל” (פרקי דר''א פי''ז).
8. Hashem’s shluchim. Additionally, the Kohanim are transmitting the bracha of Hashem Himself (see Issue 354, par. 2). In Birchos Krias Shema, we also say “הבוחר בעמו ישראל באהבה.” Hence, the shliach has the force of the One Who sent him, i.e., with love for each and every person, as every person is a child of Hashem’s.
Halachos Derived from This
9. A Kohen disliked by the tzibbur or who dislikes the tzibbur should not do Birkas Kohanim. It is a great danger for a Kohen to do Birkas Kohanim without love. Therefore, he should leave the shul before רצה (זוה''ק שם, שו''ע הרב סי''ט, מ''ב סקל''ז).
10. Before Birkas Kohanim, every Kohen should subdue his yetzer to remove any hatred from his heart and take it upon himself to love the tzibbur. The tzibbur should also take it upon themselves to love the Kohanim (ערוה''ש סכ''א, מ''ב שם). If a Kohen feels any hatred toward even one individual in the tzibbur, he should remove it from his heart (נשיאת כפים כהלכתה פט''ז אות ב').
