BIRKAT KOHANIM - ברכת כהנים

CATCH A BLESSING FOR YOR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, AND YOURSELF

Rosh Hashanah, Both Days: Approximately 1:15 PM 

Yom Kippur: Approximately 2:15 PM

 

Our blessings come from God.
The ancient ritual of
Birkat Kohanim,
the Priestly Blessing,
helps us sense the blessing
of God in our lives.

In ancient Israel,
 the kohanim, the priests,
would bless the people
everyday.
Today, outside of Israel,
this practice continues only on special holidays. The High Holidays are special enough for all of us to receive a blessing as ancient as the Torah itself.

What to Expect:
The Levites wash the hands of the Kohanim. 
The Kohanim ascend the bimah and place their talliyot or prayer shawls over their heads. 
The congregation stands throughout the blessing, which takes all of three minutes. 

What to Do:
The tradition is to not look at the Kohanim during the blessing so we bow our heads.
We cover our children and grandchildren with our talliyot. 
 

What to Feel:
The shalom, peace, which comes with the blessing of the Kohanim.