Study Sotah folio 39B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
מה שהבטחתנו. השקיפה ממעון קדשך מן השמים וגו׳״.
as You have promised us, namely: “So should they put My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them” (Numbers 6:27). “Look forth from your holy habitation, from heaven, and bless Your people, Israel” (Deuteronomy 26:15).
אמר רב חסדא: אין הכהנים רשאים לכוף קישרי אצבעותיהן עד שיחזרו פניהם מן הצבור. אמר רבי זירא אמר רב חסדא: אין הקורא רשאי לקרות ״כהנים״ עד שיכלה ״אמן״ מפי הצבור,
§ Rav Ḥisda says: The priests who spread their hands open during the benediction are not permitted to bend the joints of their fingers until they turn their faces away from the congregation once they have completed the benediction. R' Zeira says that Rav Ḥisda says: The one who calls the priests forward is not permitted to call out: Priests, until the response amen to the blessing of thanksgiving concludes from the mouths of the congregation, in order to ensure that everyone will hear the voices of the priests.
ואין הכהנים רשאין להתחיל בברכה עד שיכלה דיבור מפי הקורא, ואין הצבור רשאין לענות ״אמן״ עד שתכלה ברכה מפי הכהנים, ואין הכהנים רשאין להתחיל בברכה אחרת עד שיכלה ״אמן״ מפי הצבור.
And for the same reason, the priests are not permitted to begin reciting the benediction until the statement of the caller, i.e., his announcement: Priests, concludes from his mouth. And the congregation is not permitted to answer amen until the blessing concludes from the mouths of the priests. And the priests are not permitted to begin reciting another blessing until the response amen to the previous blessing concludes from the mouths of the congregation.
ואמר רבי זירא אמר רב חסדא: אין הכהנים רשאין להחזיר פניהם מן הצבור עד שיתחיל שליח צבור ב״שים שלום״, ואינן רשאין לעקור רגליהם ולילך עד שיגמור שליח צבור ״שים שלום״.
And R' Zeira says that Rav Ḥisda says: The priests are not permitted to turn away from the congregation after they have completed the benediction until the prayer leader begins saying the blessing of: Grant peace. And they are not permitted to uproot their feet and walk away from the platform until the prayer leader finishes saying the blessing of: Grant peace.
Text data via Sefaria: William Davidson Edition - English and William Davidson Edition - Vocalized Aramaic, CC-BY-NC; edition provenance: Koren. Display terminology has been modernized for readability.