Derasha 2 on Vayikra 9:22

TT #28 · Parshas Shemini · Aliyah 2 · Passuk 22

The Complete Passuk

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

Chabad.org — Vayikra Chapter 9 with Rashi

English: “His hand” is written in the singular: from here the Sages derive that the priest must raise his right hand slightly higher than his left during the priestly blessing.

Source Citation

Hagahos Maimoniyos, Hilchos Tefillah 14:3.

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
אֶת יָדוֹ. יָדוֹ כְּתִיב, מִכָּאן שֶׁצָּרִיךְ הַכֹּהֵן לְהַגְבִּיהַּ יָדוֹ הַיְמָנִית קְצָת מֵעַל הַשְּׂמֹאלִית [ט״ו].

English: “His hand” is written in the singular. From here it is derived that the priest must raise his right hand slightly higher than his left when giving the priestly blessing.

Type of Learning

Textual inference — the singular written form of “his hand” is used to derive the positioning of the hands in priestly blessing.

What Is Learned

The ketiv singular form is used as a basis for positioning the right hand slightly higher than the left during priestly blessing.