Question: I see different people doing different things during duchening.
Some cover themselves with a tallis, while others turn round so they
aren’t facing the kohanim. What are we supposed to do?
Answer: The Gemara (Sotah 38a) writes
that the kohanim must face the community while duchening
(blessing them). Thus, the Shulchan Aruch (OC 128:23) writes that while the kohanim
are duchening everyone else must be attentive to the beracha.
They should face the kohanim rather than turn away from them, though not
stare at them. This halacha is so important that R’ Moshe
Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 5:20:23) writes that one can even move in the middle
of davening the amida so that they and the kohanim are
facing each other.
The Gemara (Chagiga 16a) writes that one shouldn’t look at
the kohanim while they were duchaning in
the Beis Hamikdash. As the shechina rested upon their hands while
they were pronouncing the shem hameforash (ineffable name), doing
so will cause their eyes to grow dim. The Magen Avraham (OC 128:35) and Mishna Berura (128:89)
write that as the kohanim no longer utter the shem hameforash, this reason not to look at the kohanim
no longer applies. Rambam
(Tefilla and Birchas Kohanim 14:7) and Tosafos (Chagiga 16a) write that there is another
reason not to look at the kohanim as doing so can be distracting. Accordingly,
the Magen Avraham and Mishna Berura write that nowadays one would be able to
glance, though not stare at the kohanim. Nonetheless, the minhag
is to avoid looking as a zecher (remembrance) of the duchaning in the Beis Hamikdash.
The Rema (OC 128:23) records the minhag
of kohanim covering their hands with their tallis so that no one
looks at them. The Mishna Berura (128:91) and Aruch Hashulchan (OC
128:36) write that this is the ideal practice. Yet, the Mishna Berura (128:92)
writes that in places where kohanim would not cover their hands with
their talleisim, the minhag was for the tzibbur to cover
their faces instead.
Thus, R’ Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe OC 5:24:4) writes that
nowadays when the universal
minhag is for kohanim to cover their hands with their talleisim,
there is no concern about seeing them. Other than married men who wear talleisim,
it is impractical for everyone to cover their faces (See Mishna Berura 128:115).
Therefore, it is sufficient for people to just look into their siddurim
or look downwards.
In conclusion, there is a minhag not to look at the kohanim's
hands during duchening, though one wouldn’t do anything wrong if they
did see them. While those who wear a tallis typically cover themselves
with it, there is no need for others to cover their eyes, especially as kohanim
cover their hands nowadays. To avoid being distracted, it is ideal to follow in
one’s siddur or to look downwards, though one must not turn away from
the kohanim.
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