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pp. 1364-1365
Daily Prayer
הלכות תפילה לימות החול
Visible layers
חזרת הש״ץ
Laws of Chazarat HaShatz
365 During the Repetition of the Amida, the congregation is required to listen attentively to the blessings and respond “Amen” [שו״ע או״ח, קכד:ד].
366 In order to begin the Repetition of the Amida, at least nine men are required to be listening attentively [שם].
367 Some require the congregation to stand during the Repetition of the Amida [רמ״א, שם].
368 Under extenuating circumstances, the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur may begin saying the Amida aloud, while the congregation says the Amida quietly along with him. The Kedusha is said aloud in the customary fashion and, after the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur finishes the blessing הַאֵל הַקָּדוֹשׁ, he and the congregation continue saying the Amida quietly [רמ״א, שם:ב].
369 At the conclusion of the Repetition of the Amida, it is recommended that the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur say quietly the verse יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי־פִי, except when Full Kaddish immediately follows the Repetition of the Amida [משנ״ב קכג:כא]. Some also say this verse during the individual’s silent Amida.
Laws of Kedusha
370 There are different customs regarding what the congregation says during the Kedusha: (1) The congregation says only the biblical verses (...יִמְלֹךְ;...בָּרוּךְ;...קָדוֹשׁ) [שו״ע או״ח, קכה:א]; (2) The congregation says every word of the Kedusha, with the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur repeating each sentence [בה״ט, שם (בשם האר״י)]; (3) The congregation says נְקַדֵּישְׁךָ and all the biblical verses [ערוה״ש, שם:ב].
Laws of Birkat Kohanim
371 The Kohen has an affirmative obligation from the Torah to bless the congregation, provided there are at least ten males aged 13 or over (including the Kohen himself) [שו״ע או״ח, קכח:א-ב].
372 The Kohen is required to wash his hands (without a blessing) before saying Birkat Kohanim. It is customary for a Levi to pour the water [שם, ו]. If there is no water, or if the Kohen did not have enough time to wash, he may say Birkat Kohanim, provided that: (a) he washed his hands before Shaḥarit, and (b) since washing for Shaḥarit he has not touched anything unclean, even his own shoes [משנ״ב, שם:כ].
373 Each Kohen removes his shoes before ascending to say Birkat Kohanim [שו״ע, שם, ה]. When the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur begins רְצֵה, the Kohanim ascend to the Ark and stand with their backs to the congregation [שם, ח, י]. After the congregation answers “Amen” to the blessing הַטּוֹב שִׁמְךָ וּלְךָ נָאֶה לְהוֹדוֹת, if there is more than one Kohen, the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur calls out “Kohanim,” and they turn around and say the blessing. If only one Kohen has ascended to the Ark, he starts the blessing without being prompted [שם:י-יא]. The Shaliaḥ Tzibbur does not answer “Amen” at the end of the blessing [משנ״ב, שם:עא].
374 The Shaliaḥ Tzibbur reads each word of Birkat Kohanim and the Kohanim repeat it in unison. At the end of each verse, the congregation answers “Amen” [שו״ע ורמ״א, שם:יג]. The Shaliaḥ Tzibbur does not answer “Amen” at the end of each verse [שו״ע, שם:יט].
375 If the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur is himself a Kohen, some rule that he should not say the blessing, unless no other Kohanim are in the synagogue [שו״ע, שם:יט]. However, the custom today is for the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur to participate in the blessing [משנ״ב, שם:עה].
376 During Birkat Kohanim, the congregation should stand silently with eyes lowered and concentrate on the words of the Kohanim. One should not look at the faces or hands of the Kohanim [שו״ע, שם:כג].
377 In most congregations in Israel, Birkat Kohanim is said every day in Shaḥarit and, where applicable, in Musaf, as well as in Ne’ila on Yom Kippur. It is also said in Minḥa on a fast day [שו״ע או״ח, קכט:א]. Birkat Kohanim is not said in Shaḥarit of Tisha B’Av or in a mourner’s house [משנ״ב, קכא:ו], although in Jerusalem, the custom is to say Birkat Kohanim even in a mourner’s house [גשר החיים, כ:ה]. On those occasions when Birkat Kohanim may be said but no Kohen is present, the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur says אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ (page 137).
378 The custom outside Israel and in certain northern Israeli congregations, is for the Shaliaḥ Tzibbur to say אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ instead of the Kohanim saying Birkat Kohanim, except in Musaf of Yom Tov [רמ״א או״ח, קכח:מד].
Laws of Tahanun
379 וידוי and נפילת אפיים (“Lowering the Head”) are said immediately after the Amida of Shaḥarit and Minḥa. In Shaḥarit on Mondays and Thursdays, Taḥanun continues with וְהוּא רַחוּם (page 155) and יהוה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (page 159); on other occasions, it continues with שׁוֹמֵר יִשְׂרָאֵל.
380 On fast days (except on Tisha B’Av, when neither Avinu Malkenu nor Taḥanun is said) and during the Aseret Yemei Teshuva, Avinu Malkenu (page 149) is said after נפילת אפיים.
381 One should not speak between the Amida and Taḥanun [שו״ע או״ח, קלא:א].