THE PRIESTLY BLESSING
For laws regarding the Priestly Blessing, see page 608.
After the congregation has recited We thankfully with the chazzan, the Kohanim recite the following:
Hebrew
יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ*, יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתְּהֵא* הַבְּרָכָה*
הַזֹּאת שֶׁצִּוִּיתָנוּ* לְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּרָכָה שְׁלֵמָה
שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא בָהּ מִכְשׁוֹל וְעָוֹן, מֵעַתָּה וְעַד עוֹלָם:1
Chabad
y'hi rotzoyn mil'fonecho*, Adonoy Eloyheinu veiloyhei avoyseinu, shet'hei* hab'rochoh*
hazoys shetzivisonu* l'voreich es am'cho Yisro-eil b'rochoh sh'leimoh
sheloy y'hei voh michshoyl v'ovoyn, mei-atoh v'ad oylom:
The Kohanim prolong the recital to conclude it as the chazzan concludes the blessing Beneficent is Your Name, so that the congregation will answer Amen to both.
The chazzan says quietly:
Hebrew
אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, בָּרְכֵנוּ* בַּבְּרָכָה* הַמְשֻׁלֶּשֶׁת*
בַּתּוֹרָה הַכְּתוּבָה* עַל יְדֵי מֹשֶׁה עַבְדֶּךָ,
הָאֲמוּרָה מִפִּי אַהֲרֹן וּבָנָיו,
Chabad
Eloyheinu veiloyhei avoyseinu, bor'cheinu* bab'rochoh* ham'shuleshes*
batoyroh hak'suvoh* al y'dei Moysheh avdecho,
ho-amuroh mipi Aharoyn uvonov,
The chazzan calls to the Kohanim aloud:
The chazzan concludes quietly:
Hebrew
עַם קְדוֹשֶׁךָ, כָּאָמוּר:
Chabad
am k'doyshecho, ko-omur:
The congregation covers their faces with their tallitot. One not wearing a tallit should stand together with someone who does, and cover his face with that person's tallit.
The Kohanim, who are facing the Ark, then turn to face the congregation before reciting the following blessing:
Transliteration, page 637.
Hebrew
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יְהֹוָה, אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ*
בִּקְדֻשָּׁתוֹ* שֶׁל אַהֲרֹן, וְצִוָּנוּ לְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ
יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּאַהֲבָה. (אָמֵן—Cong.)
Chabad
boruch atoh Adonoy, Eloyheinu melech ho-oylom, asher kid'shonu*
bikdushosoy* shel Aharoyn, v'tzivonu l'voreich es amoy
Yisro-eil b'ahavoh. (omein-cong.)
The chazzan should not begin The Lord bless you until the congregation has concluded saying Amen. The Kohanim should not begin each word until the chazzan has concluded it, and the congregation should not respond Amen until the Kohanim have concluded each blessing.
The people standing behind the Kohanim are not included in the Priestly Blessing, but those in front of them or on their side are included, for even an iron curtain cannot separate between Israel and their Father in Heaven. However, they should face the Kohanim (but not look at them) and not look around, as the blessing of the Kohanim must be face-to-face. The people should pay attention to the blessing.