Halakhah for Sotah 77:3
ואמר ר' יהושע בן לוי כל כהן שלא נטל ידיו לא ישא את כפיו שנאמר (תהלים קלד, ב) שאו ידיכם קדש וברכו את ה'
R. Zera said in the name of R. Hisda: [It may be derived] from this passage, And the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Neh. VIII, 3. ');"><sup>5</sup></span> R. Joshua b. Levi also said: Any kohen who has not washed his hands may not lift them up [to pronounce the benediction]; as it is said: Lift up your hands in holiness and bless ye the Lord.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Ps. CXXXIV, 2. ');"><sup>6</sup></span>
Peninei Halakhah, Women's Prayer
Before the kohanim lift their hands, they must wash them. There is an allusion to this in the verse: “Lift up your hands in holiness and bless God” (Tehilim 134:2). Any kohen who did not wash his hands may not bless the congregation (Sota 39a).
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