[https://youtu.be/LDkjha6P2m8](https://youtu.be/LDkjha6P2m8?fbclid=IwAR3CrM3K4Cbhen4LPfRORHjKr14bY62DBY8BVP_xQgIr-J4hvVVVrh7S11o)# Birkat Cohanim | New YorkThe original Spanish and Portuguese tradition was that the Priestley Benediction was only performed by the Cohanim during Shachrit on Yamim Tobim, and in Musaf and Ne'ilah on Yom Kippur. Among the three major surviving communities, New York stands alone in adhering to these guidelines. In the seventeenth century, under the influence of Shabetai Tsebi, Nesi'at Kapayim on Shabbatot was introduced into the Amsterdam community’s rite. In London the practice began much more recently, around 25 years ago, at the behest of Yehidim wanting the Spanish and Portuguese community to fall in line with the custom followed in Israel and the wider Sefardi world.On the occasions when the Cohanim do not ascend the Duchan, the Priestly Blessing is replaced by a formula recited by the Hazzan. This formula incorporates the text of the Priestly Benediction, with the congregation responding 'Ken Yehi Ratson' following each of the blessing's three components.The present recording is of the New York version of the Hazzan's formula. It is the most elaborated of the variants among the three congregations and may be described as an modified variation of the standard recitative used throughout the repetition of the Amidah.**Footnote**As with most settings for the Priestly Blessing, the phrasing in this chant significantly misrepresents the meaning of the text. As can be heard, the implied punctuation in this recording is:**‘Barekhenu Baberakhah, Hamshuleshet Batorah, Haketubah Al Yedei Moshe Abdekha.’** i.e. with commas after the words **‘Baberakhah’** and **‘Batorah’.** This creates the misleading impression that what is being described is a single blessing which occurs three times in the Torah. In fact, what is actually being referred to is a once-occurring tripartite blessing. The correct punctuation should, therefore, be:**‘Barekhenu Baberakhah Hamshuleshet, Batorah Haketubah Al Yedei Moshe Abdekha’** i.e. with a single comma after the phrase **‘Baberakhah Hamshuleshet’.**It was my hope to record the piece, phrasing it in a way that would reflect the correct punctuation. However, because of the demands made by both the rhyming scheme and the need for syllabic symmetry, I struggled in vain to find a way of doing it elegantly.Please like and share, and if you haven’t already, please subscribe to my YouTube channel.For an mp3 of this recording please visit my website, where there are over 180 selections available for free downloading.