Almost everything you want to know about the priestly benediction thanks to midrash halakha TB Sotah 38

On daf TB Sotah 38 we see midrash halakha in action. “The word midrash refers to “searching out” the meaning of, or interpreting, the words of the Torah.  tells new stories, answers new questions and forges connections between new Jewish realities and the eternal, unchanging biblical text.

“When this searching centers on ideas, values, or the story and characters of the 

Although most the time they reached the same halakhic conclusions, there are two major differences between midrash halakha and the Mishna. Midrash halakha comments verse by verse in the book of the Torah and shows the process how the tanna reached his conclusion. The Mishnah is organized by topics and usually just provides the halakha.

The Mishna introduces the topic of birkat kohanim, the priestly benediction by distinguishing the difference between the priests blessing the people in the Temple and blessing them in the synagogue.

“”How is the Priestly Benediction recited? In the country, i.e., outside the Temple, the priest recites the verses as three blessings, pausing between each verse while the people respond amen. And in the Temple, the priests recite all three verses as one blessing, after which the people respond: Blessed be the Lord, God, the God of Israel, from eternity to eternity, as is the customary response to blessings in the Temple. In the Temple, the priest utters the name of God as it is written in the Torah, i.e., the Tetragrammaton (YHVH-gg), and in the country they use its substitute name of Lordship (Adonai-gg). In the country, the priests lift their hands so they are aligned with their shoulders during the benediction. And in the Temple they lift them above their heads, except for the High Priest, who does not lift his hands above the frontplate. Since the Tetragrammaton is inscribed on it, it is inappropriate for him to lift his hands above it. Rabbi Yehuda says: Even the High Priest lifts his hands above the frontplate, as it is stated: “And Aaron lifted up his hands toward the people and blessed them” (Leviticus 9:22).” (Sefaria.org translation)

We learn seven different halakhot how the priest correctly blessed the people. These eight halakhot follow the exact same pattern. The all begin with “כֹּה תְבָרְכוּ-So you shall bless the children of Israel” (Numbers 6:23)” Interpreting this phrase produces the correct procedure. The procedure is questioned, but is maintained. The baraita concludes with a rabbi agreeing with the halakha, but showing that the original methodology is unnecessary. Let me share with you just one example.

“The Sages taught: The mitzva given to the priests: “So you shall bless the children of Israel” (Numbers 6:23), is that they bless them in the sacred tongue, Hebrew. Do you say that the benediction must be recited in the sacred tongue, or perhaps it may be recited in any language? The baraita answers: It is stated here, with regard to the Priestly Benediction: “So you shall bless,” and it is stated there, with regard to the blessings and curses: “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people” (Deuteronomy 27:12). There is a verbal analogy between these two usages of the word “bless”: Just as there, the blessings and curses were recited in the sacred tongue, as stated above (33a), so too here, the Priestly Benediction is recited in the sacred tongue.

“Rabbi Yehuda says: It is not necessary to derive this from a verbal analogy, as it says with regard to the Priestly Benediction: “Thus,” which means that it is not recited correctly unless they recite it in this exact language, as it is written in the Torah.” (Sefaria.org translation)

Here are the seven halakhic procedures discussed on our daf.

1.    The priestly benediction must be recited in Hebrew.

2.    The priestly benediction must be recited standing.

3.    The priest must lift up their arms while reciting the priestly benediction.

4.    The priests recite God’s name YHVH in the blessings, but only in the Temple.

5.    The priestly benediction blesses all people and not just the males.

6.    While blessing the people, the priest and the congregation face each other.

7.    The priestly benediction is recited out loud.