Series: Five Minute Halacha

Venue: YU Wilf Campus YU Wilf Campus

Halacha:

Birchas Kohanim,  Kohanim,  Minhagim,  Sephardi Halacha 

Collections: Mordechai Djavaheri Birkat Kohanim

References: Shulchan Aruch: Orach Chaim 128:13  

Description

The Minhag in many communities such as Eretz Yisrael and Bavel was once like the Rambam and Shulchan Aruch, but the Ashkenazi Minhag has some procedural benefits, as it's easier for everyone to answer Amen to the Beracha. Hence, the Ben Ish Chai and Rav Ovadia convinced many communities to change for the better. Those who maintain the Minhag are not in bad standing, though. (Yechave Da'at 4:10 in the footnote, Halichot Olam vol. 1 Teztaveh 1, Yalkut Yosef 128:42, and Halacha Berurah 128:51, who quotes the Acharonim who testify the Minhag was previously like the Rambam and Maran) Nevertheless, the Teimani Minhag is still like the Rambam (Shulchan Aruch HaMekutzar 20:11). Some distinguish between one and two kohanim.