HaRav Shimon Brecher getting a brochoh from HaRav Chaim
This is excerpted from the forthcoming "Shomanu Kein Ra'inu" by HaRav Shimon Brecher who was very close to HaRav Chaim.
Is it important for a Kohen to participate at the mass bircas kohanim which takes place by the Kosel?
Yes, as is explained in Sefer Chassidim (Siman 630). It says as follows:
Rav Hai Gaon used to go up to Yerushalayim each year from Bovel for Succos. They would walk around Har Hazeisim on Hoshanna Rabba seven times while reciting psalms which Rav Hai had designated.
Before Rav Hai Kohanim attired in sirikon and coats would walk, and after him walked the masses. Rav Hai himself was in the middle, separated by one-hundred cubits fro those before him and also from those behind him.
Rav Hai would be in a good mood after the meal. A murderer baal teshuva (mentioned earlier in the Sefer Chassidim) seeing him in a good mood, asked him, "Rebbe, why did you walk alone when circumscribing the Mount of Olives?"
Rav Hai replied: "Because I come up from Bovel every year to walk around Har Hazeisim on Succos. I purify myself on Hoshanna Rabba and am accompanied by Eliyahu Hanovi walks with me. Therefore we maintain a distance between those before us and after, and he speaks with me."
I asked him when Moshiach would come and he said: "When Har HaZeisim is encircled with kohanim." I took all the kohanim I could find to do this and maybe we will succeed.
Eliyahu said to me: "See all of those kohanim attired regally and walking proudly? Not one of them is truly descended from Aharon HaKohen. Except for one who is the one walking behind, scorned by the others and despised. He wears unseemly clothing and does not seek any honor, makes himself as if he does not exist. He limps and is blind in one eye. But he is a true son of Aharon."
And Rav Hai said: "This is why I smiled. Of all those men, not one was a Kohen of true lineage except for that disfigured one."
And it is clear that Rav Hai did this to hasten the Redemption.
But in any case there are thousands of kohanim there at the Kosel.
Perhaps they need you. Perhaps you are a genuine Kohen!
