The place where the priests (kohanim) stand to bless [the congregation] is on the platform adjacent to the western wall (in Baghdad, that is the direction of Jerusalem) toward which we pray. As the meaning of the word dukhan is to say, a platform. And one who is negligent about this, not to ascend the platform to stand there but rather to stand on the floor of the sanctuary, is surely deviating from the words of the Sages, may their memory be blessed. For the Sages, may their memory be blessed, did not say that the priests ascend the dukhan for nothing. And here in our city, may God protect it, their custom was for the priests to stand on the floor of the sanctuary and to recite the blessing of the priests (birkat kohanim), and not to stand on the platform at the edge of the sanctuary. But, praises to God, I made the custom that they ascend the platform at the edge of the sanctuary and bless there. And so is fit to be exacting about this in each and every place.