Parshat Naso includes the Mitzva of the priestly blessing; it's a Mitzva for the Cohanim to bless the Jews with the Bracha as written in the Torah:
יְבָרֶכְךָ ה', וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ יָאֵר ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וִיחֻנֶּךָּ יִשָּׂא ה' פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ, וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם
Before giving the blessing, the Cohanim remove their shoes.
Then they wash their hands - up to their wrists - from a cup, but do not say a Bracha on the washing.
It's the Levi's privilege to pour the water over the hands of the Cohanim.
If no Levi is present, a firstborn (from his mother; one who qualifies for Pidyon Haben) may wash the Cohanim's hands.
If no Levi and no firstborn is present, the Cohanim wash their own hands.
Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 100:1, 5-6 - Danny Tuesday, 10 Sivan 5769
Please daven for a complete recovery for Yosef Zalman ben Tamar Yael - יוסף זלמן בן תמר יעל who has meningitis.
My father has always blessed me with birkat cohanim before going to bed. Today, I always bless my son with Birkat Cohanim before he goes to sleep. What is the origin of this custom? I read that most families just do this on Shabat evening?
ReplyDeleteHi Dov,
ReplyDeleteBirkat Cohanim is part of the Kriat-Shema-Al-HaMita - the prayers we say before going to bed.
It's very long, so most parents just say s a few select passages of it with their children, and Birkat Cohanim is a popular one.