Sotah

R. Hisda said: The kohanim are not permitted to bend their fingerjoints  until they turn their faces from the congregation. R. Zera said in the name of R. Hisda: The Precentor is not permitted to exclaim 'Kohanim!'  until the response of Amen [to the preceding benediction] had been completed by the congregation; and the kohanim are not permitted to begin the benediction until the announcement [of 'Kohanim!'] had been completed by the Precentor; and the congregation is not permitted to respond Amen until the benediction had been completed by the kohanim, — and the kohanim are not permitted to begin another section of the bene diction until the response of Amen had been completed by the congregation [to the preceding]. R. Zera also said in the name of R. Hisda: The kohanim are not permitted to turn their faces from the congregation 'until the Precentor begins the paragraph 'Grant peace';  nor are they permitted to move their feet and descend until the Precentor has finished 'Grant peace'. R. Zera also said in the name of R. Hisda: The congregation is not permitted to respond Amen until a benediction had been completed by the Precentor; and the reader is not permitted to read in the Torah until the response of Amen [to the preliminary benediction] had been completed by the congregation; and the translator  is not permitted to begin the translation until the verse had been completed by the reader; and the reader is not permitted to begin another verse until the translation [of the preceding verse] had been completed by the translator. R. Tanhum said in the name of R. Joshua b. Levi: He who is to read the lection from the prophets must first read [a passage] in the Torah.  R. Tanhum also said in the name of R. Joshua b. Levi: He who is to read the lection from the prophets is not permitted to begin his recital until the Torah-scroll is rolled up.  R. Tanhum also said in the name of R. Joshua b. Levi: The Precentor is not permitted to strip the ark bare in the presence of the Congregation because of the dignity of the congregation.  R. Tanhum also said in the name of R. Joshua b. Levi: The congregation is not permitted to depart until the Torah-scroll is removed  and deposited in its place. Samuel said: [They may not depart] until [the Pre centor] has gone out.  There is no variance between them; the former refers to when there is another exit,  the latter to when there is not another exit. Raba said: Bar Ahina explained to me [that the Scriptural basis for this regulation is], Ye shall walk after the Lord your God. While the kohanim are blessing the people  what do the latter say? — R. Zera declared in the name of R. Hisda: Bless the Lord, ye angels of His, ye mighty in strength … Bless the Lord, all ye His hosts, ye ministers of His that do His pleasure. Bless the Lord, all ye His works, in all places of His dominion. Bless the Lord, O my soul.  What do they say [during the benediction] in the additional service of the Sabbath?  — R. Assi declared: A Song of Ascents, Behold, bless ye the Lord, all ye servants of the Lord … Lift up your hands in holiness and bless ye the Lord.  Blessed be the Lord Out of Zion, Who dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the Lord.  But they should also say: The Lord bless thee out of Zion  which occurs in that context! — Judah the son of R. Simeon b. Pazzi answered: Since he commenced with the blessings of the Holy One, blessed be He, he should conclude with His blessings. What do they say in the afternoon — service of a fast-day?  — R. Aha b. Jacob declared: Though our iniquities testify against us, work Thou for Thy name's sake … O Thou hope of Israel, the Saviour thereof in the time of trouble, why shouldest Thou be as a sojourner in the land … Why shouldest Thou be as a man astonied, as a mighty man that cannot save? etc.