Should the congregation cover their faces and look away during Birkat Kohanim?
Synopsis
The Mechaber rules that the congregation should face the Kohanim but not look at them; the Kohanim themselves should not look at their hands. The Rema adds that the custom is for Kohanim to lower their tallitot over their faces with hands outside the tallit. Some places have the hands inside the tallit to prevent the congregation from looking at them. The Taz explains the reason is not the Talmud's warning about eye damage (which applied only when the Name was pronounced), but simply to prevent distraction.
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Discussion
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