Friday, August 10, 2007

AN UNCERTAIN KOHEN RECITING THE PRIESTLY BLESSING - Yevamos 99 - Daf Yomi

The Mishna discusses a case regarding the child of a Kohenes who became intermingled with her slavewoman's child.

The Shvus Yaakov in his responsa (3) rules that in such a case, each one of the sons will recite the Priestly Blessings and the blessing beforehand. Now, even though, a non-Kohen transgresses a positive commandment by reciting the Priestly Blessing and he will be saying a blessing in vain, since the Priestly Blessing entails three positive commandments, it will override the questionable prohibition.

Reb Yosef Engel in Gilyonei HaShas challenges this ruling: He states that there are not three positive commandments involved in this mitzvah; it is mentioned three times in the Torah. And that which the Shvus Yaakov stated that once he is reciting the Priestly Blessing, he might as well recite the blessing beforehand, why is this different than any time someone performs a mitzvah in a case of uncertainty? He should perform the mitzvah without reciting the blessing!

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