Standing Behind Some of the Kohanim During the Priestly Blessing
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Question
The Gemara explains that it is forbidden to stand behind the Kohanim when they bless the people. The question is, what is the ruling when there are many Kohanim, and one stands behind some of them? Is there a prohibition in this case?
Answer
It seems that one should stand in front of all the Kohanim or to the sides, facing them.
Source
The Gemara, Tractate Sotah, page 38b: "Said Ada in the name of Rabbi Simlai: A synagogue that is entirely Kohanim, all ascend to the platform. Whom do they bless? Rabbi Zeira said: Their brothers in the fields. Is this so? But Abba, son of Rabbi Minyamin bar Chiya, taught: The people behind the Kohanim are not included in the blessing! This is not difficult: one is when they are compelled, the other when they are not."
Similarly, the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim, Siman 128, Paragraph 24 rules: "The people behind the Kohanim are not included in the blessing, but those in front and to the sides, even a wall of iron does not interrupt; and behind them as well, if they are compelled, such as people in the fields, occupied with their work and unable to come, they are included in the blessing."
The reason they are not included in the blessing when not compelled, as written by the early commentators, is because it shows that the blessing is not important to them, and they do not wish to move for it. Therefore, even if they are blessed by some of the Kohanim, it shows that the blessing of the other Kohanim is not important to them, and they are not included in their blessing.