By: Chaya Sora Jungreis-Gertzulin
HaShem spoke to Moshe: “Speak to Aaron and his sons. This is how you shall bless the people of Israel. Say to them:
May HaShem bless you and protect you.
May HaShem shine His face upon you, and be gracious to you.
May HaShem turn His face towards you, and grant you peace.”
(Bamidbar/Numbers 6:22-26)
This week’s parshah, Nasso, includes Birchas Kohanim, the blessing that HaShem instructed the kohanim to transmit to the Jewish nation. “Let the kohanim put my name on Bnei Yisroel, and I will bless them.” (Bamidbar/Numbers 6:27). HaShem is the source of all blessing, and the kohanim are His messengers, conduits through which the blessings reach us.
The kohanim bless us on the Sholosh Regalim, the Three Festivals – Pesach, Shavuos and Succos, as well as on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur. In Israel, there are varying customs, with many shuls reciting it every day in the morning prayers. Birchas Kohanim, the Priestly Blessing is also referred to as “duchanning”, since the kohanim stand on a raised platform, which in Yiddish is referred to as a “duchan”.
Birchas Kohanim begins with the reciting of a berachah “… And has commanded us to bless His people b’ahavah, with love.”
With love. We have so many mitzvos – daily mitzvos, like washing our hands upon rising in the morning, and reciting Birchas HaShachar, the morning prayers. There are mitzvos that are unique to Shabbos, like candle lighting and making Kiddush. Mitzvos in honor of the holidays – such as eating matzah on Pesach, sitting in the succah, reciting Megillas Esther, blowing shofar, and kindling the Chanukah menorah. Yet, none of the berachos recited prior to performing these mitzvos include the term “b’ahavah”, to observe the mitzvah with love.
The Zohar tells us that the kohain’s blessings must come from the heart and be sincere. To bless everyone stranding before him, each member of Am Yisroel with love. To “fargin” – to be happy for another’s joy, well-being, nachas and mazel. To be selfless, to rise above any feelings of jealousy or ill will. To have a pure, giving heart towards all.
In the Hebrew text of Birchas Kohanim, the kohanim bless the congregation in the personal – singular, even though they are blessing an entire group. This sends an important message to the kohanim, that each and every person is important. Every group is comprised of individuals, and each one needs blessings. Blessings to be given b’ahavah, with love.
We were just blessed on Shavuos by the kohanim. How uplifting it was to receive their berachah, and listen to their melodious chants. It truly felt that we were the recipients of HaShem’s berachos.
The kohanim stand with outstretched hands, as if to be “touching” everyone they are blessing. Their palms face the floor, with spacing between the thumb and index finger as well as between the middle and ring fingers. It is a message to us not to despair, that there is always an “opening” despite all the hardships and challenges that everyone endures. As HaShem’s spiritual light shines through the openings of the kohanim’s fingers, so too do His rays of light rest upon us.
In addition, there is a beautiful custom amongst some Sephardic congregations, where all those in shul stand during Birchas Kohanim with their hands outstretched, and their palms facing upwards, to symbolize their readiness to accept the berachos being bestowed upon them by the kohanim.
Birchas Kohanim is comprised of three distinct blessings:
Yevorechecho – HaShem should bless us. Rashi quotes from the Midrash that this is a blessing for prosperity. That HaShem should provide for our material needs. The blessing includes “v’yishmerecha – to guard and protect us.” HaShem should not only gift us good fortune, but watch over our possessions as well.
Yo’er – HaShem should shine His light, His ohr upon us. This refers to our spiritual growth. A berachah that we be capable of understanding the wisdom of the Torah, and that we find favor in HaShem’s eyes.
Yisso – HaShem should turn His face towards us, and bestow upon us the blessing of shalom, peace. Peace and harmony between nations, communities, families, and peace within oneself.
Blessings that we can all relate to. Berachos we can all use.
“V’heyei berachah, You shall be for a blessing.” (Bereishis/Genesis 12:2) HaShem’s words to Avraham Avinu, our Patriarch Abraham. A message for all of Am Yisroel, for all times. To be a people of blessing. A nation that cherishes both giving and receiving berachos.
One of the most special childhood memories I have, are my parents’ berachos, every Friday night and especially Erev Yom Kippur. As is customary in many families, we would line up, oldest to youngest, and receive a berachah from our father, as he lovingly placed his hands upon us. We would then go to our mother, and she too would bless us, and then whisper a personal prayer to each of us – always knowing exactly what we needed to hear.
Before each of the Yomim Tovim, holidays, we would go to our grandparents, Mama and Zeide, to receive berachos from them. As is the Hungarian custom, we would kiss Zeide’s hand and thank him for his berachos. Blessings that were given with ahavah, with love. A love that was palpable.
My mother would tell us to reciprocate with words of blessing to Mama and Zeide. To wish them gezunt, good health, and wish them to be at our weddings, and see much nachas from all of us.
I never outgrew or tired of berachos. When I became a mother, it was my turn to bring the next generation to my parents and grandparents. Mama and Zeide’s house was always the baby’s “first outing”.
I am often asked what I miss the most about my parents. They were larger than life personalities, both so accomplished. I miss so many things, but high up on that list are their berachos. Berachos that calmed my spirit, and gave me the feeling that everything will be OK, safe and secure. Berachos that were given with love.
B’ahavah. With love. While we may not all be kohanim, we should still relate to each other with love. We are a nation of berachos, and we can offer blessings to one another. We can pray and be there for each other.
We can all give blessings b’ahavah, with love.
Shabbat Shalom!
Chaya Sora
Chaya Sora can be reached at [email protected]
This article was written L’zecher Nishmas / In Memory Of HaRav Meshulem ben HaRav Osher Anshil HaLevi, zt”l and Rebbetzin Esther bas HaRav Avraham HaLevi, zt”l
