Responses During Kerias HaTorah and Birkas Kohanim
IV. Kerias HaTorah
A person who is reciting Kerias Shema or its berachos should ideally not be called up for an aliyah. If this person is the only Kohen or Levi present, the Poskim dispute if he should be called up, as well as if he should go up to his aliyah if the gabbai called him up. The accepted halachah is that the gabbai may, if necessary, call up one for an aliyah if this person is holding at a juncture of bein haperakim. However, it is best for the person to leave the room beforehand, in order to avoid this issue.48
Bedieved, one49 who is called up for an aliyah may go up even if he is be’emtza haperek, unless he is reciting the first pasuk of Shema, or Baruch Shem, or he has just concluded the berachah of Ga’al Yisrael.50 One who can quickly finish the berachah or passage of Kerias Shema that he is reciting without unduly inconveniencing the congregation should do so in order to reach a point of bein haperakim before going up for the aliyah. One who cannot do this (for example he is holding towards the beginning of the berachah or passage), should try to at least reach a place within the berachah or passage where a phrase finishes (even without completing an entire sentence), as to not interrupt within a phrase. Again, if this too is impossible, he may go up for the aliyah when called (providing that he isn’t in the verses of Shema or Baruch Shem or after Ga’al Yisrael).51
When receiving the aliyah, the person should not read along with the ba’al korei. He should also not ask the gabbai to recite a Mi Shebeirach on his behalf. If the gabbai initiates a Mi Shebeirach on his own and asks him for his name, he may respond.52
One who is in the middle of Kerias Shema or its berachos may interrupt his recitation when the Sefer Torah has already been set down on the bimah, and if he is the only person present who is able to serve as ba’al korei on behalf of the congregation. He should try to complete the berachah or passage that he is saying, reaching a point of bein haperakim before beginning to read from the Torah. Although he may, under these circumstances, serve as ba’al korei, he should not be the one who calls up people for aliyos.53
V. Birkas Kohanim
If there are other Kohanim in shul it is best for a Kohen who is in the middle of Kerias Shema or its berachos to leave the shul room before the chazzan reaches Retzeih, so as not to become obligated in Birkas Kohanim. If he is the only Kohen present, he may remain in the shul room and recite Birkas Kohanim even if he is in the middle of a berachah or a passage of Kerias Shema (be’emtza haperek). This Kohen should ideally finish the berachah, or passage of Kerias Shema, that he is reciting, in order to reach a point of bein haperakim. If this cannot be done, he should at least complete the phrase that he is reciting.54
One who is in the middle of any part of Kerias Shema or its berachos when the Kohanim ascend to bless the congregation should pause and answer Amen at the conclusion of each of the three berachos.55
48 Mishnah Berurah 66:26.
49 Even a Yisrael (Mishnah Berurah 66:26).
50 Aruch Hashulchan 66:9.
51 Ibid.
52 Ibid.
53 Mishnah Berurah 66:26.
54 See Kaf Hachaim 66:26.
55 Igros Moshe, Orach Chaim IV:21:2.