Derasha 1 on Vayikra 9:22

TT #27 · Parshas Shemini · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 22

The Complete Passuk

וַיִּשָּׂ֨א אַהֲרֹ֧ן אֶת־יָדָ֛ו אֶל־הָעָ֖ם וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֑ם וַיֵּ֗רֶד מֵעֲשֹׂ֧ת הַֽחַטָּ֛את וְהָעֹלָ֖ה וְהַשְּׁלָמִֽים׃

English: “Aaron lifted his hand”: from here is derived that the priestly blessing is performed with the hands raised.

Sotah 38a.

E-Daf.com — Sotah 38a (Tsurras Hadaf)

Core Text

וַיִּשָּׂא אַהֲרֹן אֶת יָדוֹ. מִכָּאן לְבִרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִים שֶׁהִיא בִּנְשִׂיאַת כַּפַּיִם [י״ד]. (סוֹטָה ל״ח א׳).

Gezeirah shavah — the priestly blessing is identified from the act of Aaron lifting his hands toward the people.

Aaron's raising of his hands is a source for the practice of the priestly blessing with raised hands.