Birkat Kohanim by a kohen who took a life

Hi,

"Mechaber: If a kohen kills someone, even accidentally, he should not recite the blessing of the kohanim even after he repents.

"Rama: Some say that if he repents then he may recite this blessing. One should be lenient for penitents so as not to discourage them, and this is the practice."

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 128:35)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The role of the chazan in Birkat Kohanim

Hi,

Regarding the blessing conveyed to the Jews by the kohanim:

"The chazan [who recites each word ahead of the kohanim] is the agent who draws influence in a 'pipeline' from the source of blessing first, pouring it as a blessing upon the heads of the kohanim.

"The chazan first says to the kohen, 'May Gd bless you,' so as to make the kohen a vessel full to overflowing with the blessing of Gd. Then, when the kohen says to the Jews, 'May Gd bless you,' he pours from this full vessel into an empty vessel.

"Were the kohen not blessed first, he would be pouring from one empty vessel into another."

(Kli Yakar to Bamidbar 6:23, expanding an idea expressed by Rabbeinu Bechayye)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Offering blessing to others

Hi,

"If a Kohen refuses to bless the nation (as he is instructed to bless them in Bamidbar 6), then he will not receive blessing from Gd.

"A Kohen who does bless the nation, though, will receive blessing as well, as Gd said (to Avraham), 'I will bless those who bless you.'"

(Maimonides, Mishneh Torah, Laws of Prayer and the Raising of the Hands [for the blessing] 15:12)

Have a great day,
Mordechai