Temple Beth Am Library Minyan The Ritual Committee of the Library Minyan has been approached with a request to include the “Birkat Cohanim” (“Priestly Blessing”) as part of the Mussaf Service at holiday davenings during the year. At the current time, this blessing is recited in a different format by the Shaliach Tzibbur whenever there is a full repetition of the Amidah prayer. The text of the Birkat Cohanim in its alternate form is included in the siddur Sim Shalom. It has as yet not been chanted by Cohanim as part of the Library Minyan’s practice.
In the tradition of the Library Minyan, change in ritual is approached with discussion and education. The purpose of this website is to present articles, comments, study, drashot, and other helpful material so that members can make informed decisions about this ritual and help guide the response to this request.
In addition, at a Ritual Committee meeting on May 3, 2009, it was decided that a demonstration of the ritual would be held as part of the Mussaf service on Saturday, October 3, 2009, the first day of the Festival of Sukkot, 5770. Further information on this will be posted on this website as well.
Please feel free to send me your comments and suggestions on this process, as well as any material you might like to see added to the site.
Norm Saiger
Chairperson, Ritual Committee
nsaiger@alumni.usc.edu
Read Rabbi Greyber's drash from May 9, 2009 here.
“Women Raise your Hands”, Committee on Jewish Law and Standards of the Rabbinical Assembly, 1994
Workshop for Kohanim and Levi’im with Rabbi Daniel Greyber (including daughters of Kohanim)
Issues of Egalitarianism and Duchaning with Rabbi Adam Kligfeld. Both sessions are open to all who would like to attend and learn.
Similar to the Drash given by Michael Berenbaum on August 8, this is a resource guide from the Minyan Project of Mechon Hadar in New York. Click here to view the PDF.