Genesis – 27:4 – [Yitzchak says to Esav] Make for me tasty dishes that I love, then bring them to me and I will eat them so that my soul will bless you before I die.

Responsum of the Maharam: “From here we know that one who blesses others must be in a state of joy.”

Torah Temimah Colloquial Translation on Note #3:

Before a person eats, his mood is not completely set within him and his heart is not good within him.  See what is written in Baba Basra 12b. Also, this same teaching is mentioned in the Beis Yosef in his commentary on Orach Chaim, who quotes the teaching in the name of the Rishonim. He also quotes the verse in Kings 1 8:66 “they went to their tents in joy and with happy hearts; and they blessed the king.” In the verse, it mentions blessing right next to joy and being with a happy heart.

This is the reason why the halacha is that a Cohen who is in mourning may not bless the congregation during prayers (duchan). Neither may a Cohen who is not married. This is due to the fact mentioned in Gemora Yevamos 62b that a man who is not married lives without joy. However, our custom is that a Cohen who is not married, does in fact bless the congregation during prayers. This halacha is mentioned in Orach Chaim 128.

See also the Responsum of the Beis Ephraim Section 6 where he quotes the Gemora Yerushalmi to teach a new and amazing halacha. The Beis Ephraim teaches that a Cohen whose wife is a niddah (and therefore forbidden for sexual relations due to her menstrual cycle) may not bless the congregation. This is an amazing law that is stated without a reason. The commentator Pri Chadash states that this is not the halacha because we do not publicize when a woman is or is not a niddah. Rabbi Tzvi Chajes agrees with the Pri Chadash and says that this teaching is not found in the Gemora Yerushalmi and there is no reason for this teaching.

There is, though, some justification for this halacha. Since a Cohen who gives the blessing must be in a state of joy, In fact, there is a similar teaching in Gemora Niddah 31b where it teaches the reason why a ritual circumcision is performed on the eighth day. Rashi there explains that all the other guests will be happy and joyous but if performed before the eighth day, the mother and father would not be joyous at the ceremonial feast (because she would be in a state of niddah.)

However, the above Gemora Yerushalmi also mentions that a Cohen should not duchan if his mother or sister is a niddah. That is certainly astounding. I did see a commentary by the Raavid though which explains this. The Raavid states that the prohibition of the Cohen to duchan if his mother or sister is a niddah was because of concerns of ritual impurity (tumah). This certainly only applies in the times when the temple in Jerusalem was still standing. This law would not apply in our times.

Translator’s Note: This note is am emphatic endorsement of marriage by the Torah Temimah.