ברכת כהנים

(3) אמור is written plene (with ו after the מ) thus indicating: you shall not bless them hurriedly and hastily, but devoutly and with a whole heart (Midrash Tanchuma, Nasso 10).

(7) While the priests bless the people, they may not look at the people, nor allow their minds to wander. Their eyes should look to the ground like one engaged in prayer. No one may gaze at the priests while they are blessing the people so that their attention should not be distracted. All the people should concentrate their minds, so as to hear the Benediction and turn their faces towards the faces of the priests, but they do not look at them.

(9) How was the rite of the Priestly Benediction performed in the Temple? The priests went up to the platform after the conclusion of the morning sacrifice. They raised their hands, with fingers straightened, above their heads; except the High Priest who did not raise his hands higher than the Golden Plate.^*on his forehead; the plate had the words engraved, “holy to God”. One prompted them, word for word, just as is done outside the temple, till they had concluded the three verses of the Benediction. The people did not respond "Amen" after each verse. But all the three verses were recited as one blessing. When they concluded, all the people responded, "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting."

(10) The name of God was pronounced as written; that is, the name of which the utterance is according to the letters Yod, He, Vav, He. This is the Ineffable Name (literally the Proper Name), wherever it is referred to. Outside the temple the usual pronunciation is used, as if it were written A.D.N.I.^*Adonai—my Lord.; for the Proper Name of God as written, is pronounced nowhere but in the Temple. After the death of Simon the Just, the priests ceased to utter the proper name of God in the Benediction, even in the Temple, so that an unworthy or unsuitable person should not learn it. The ancient teachers did not teach this name to their disciples or sons, even when they were worthy, except once in seven years—all this out of respect to the Honored and Revered Name of God.

(3) How is this rite performed outside the Temple? When the Reader of the congregation reaches the paragraph in the Amidah referring to the restoration of the ancient service and he utters the first word of that blessing beginning "Be pleased",^*The first of the last three blessings of the Amidah. all the priests in the synagogue leave their places, proceed to the platform in front of the ark, stand there, with their faces towards the ark and their backs towards the congregation, their fingers bent in their palms, till the Reader concludes the paragraph of thanksgiving.^*The second of these last three blessings. Then they turn their faces toward the congregation, straighten their fingers, raise their hands to a level with their shoulders and begin reciting, "May the Lord bless thee". The Reader prompts them, word by word, and they repeat, as it is said, "Say unto them", which means that they are to wait till he recites. When they have ended the first verse, all the people respond, "Amen". The Reader of the congregation prompts them in the second verse, word for word, which they repeat till they have ended the second verse, when all the people respond, "Amen". And so with the third verse.

(4) When the priests have concluded reciting the three verses of the Benediction, the Reader begins the last paragraph of the Amidah, that beginning, "Grant Peace". The priests turn their faces towards the ark, bend their fingers^*(and drop the hands.) and remain standing on the platform till he concludes the paragraph, and then they return to their places.