Jewish Heritage Connection ~ Shabbat Shalom Fax
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8 Sivan 5767 ~ May 25, 2007

Torah Portion: Naso Numbers 4:21 ~ 7:89

In the middle of the holiday Mussaf service, as the Kohanim stand on the platform and offer the priestly blessings, one covers his head with his Talis. I remember joining my older brother under my father`s Talis, before I was Bar Mitzvah, and had the privilege this Shavuos to have my Moshe join me under my Talis.

Our custom is not to peer at the hands of the Kohanim while they are reciting the blessings, because spiritual rays emanate from G~d`s blessing through the Kohanim`s hands that are spread and formed in a special way, and seeing this may harm our vision.

In Israel, the custom is that Kohanim ascend and offer their blessings every day during the morning service.

In the diaspora, the Askanazik custom is that the priestly blessing is recited by the Chazan during the Shacharis and Mussaf repetition of the Amida service, while the Kohanim ascending the platform to bless the congregation is reserved for the holidays.

One of the reasons why the priestly blessings are said only on the holidays is because one is in a joyful mood on the holidays and blessings should be recited as pleasantly as possible. In fact, the blessing that the Kohanim recite before doing the mitzvah of blessing, ends with the word B`ahavah ~ with love. It is a prerequisite for a Kohain to feel a love towards his fellow congregants while expressing the blessing.

The blessing begins with, Yivarechacha, Hashem ~ May G~d bless you, V`yishmerecha ~ and may He watch over you.

The essence of blessing is plenty, which has a downside to it, since abundance can beget evil. Therefore the verse concludes with, `May He watch over you,` so that we not stumble into indulgence due to the blessings.

Rabbi Aaron Kotler o.b.m. addresses the following age old question. If a person is worthy of G~d`s bounty, he should receive it without having to pray for it. Conversely, if he has not earned it, how will prayer help?

Reb Aaron, explains: A person may be truly worthy of blessing, but if he receives it without having prayed for it, the blessing may become detrimental to him, for he may use it for unfit purposes. Therefore, G~d mercifully withholds his blessings until one prays for them. By praying, man contemplates that it is G~d who bestows goodness on him. Thus, he will be careful to use his blessings in the appropriate manner.

The Priestly blessing consists of fifteen statements contained in three verses. The first verse has three words and fifteen letters. The three words represent our three forefathers, Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaacov. The fifteen letters represent the fifteen years that their lives overlapped. The first letters of each of the three word`s numerical value is 26, which is the numerical value of G~d`s four letter name. The numerical value of the last letters of the words is 45, which alludes to the secret 45 letter name of G~d. This name was reserved to be enunciated in the Temple.

The second verse contains five words, which correspond to the Five Books of the Torah.

The third verse contains seven words, which correspond to the seven Heavens from where the blessings emanate.

The total amount of letters in the priestly blessing is 60. The Zohar our Kaballah explains that this corresponds to the Jewish people. The totality of the Jewish people is comprised of 600,000 souls (who were at Mount Sinai). Each letter parallels one myriad of the Jewish people.

It is an extremely uplifting, and spiritual connection to holiness, when one experiences Birchas Kohanim ~ the priestly blessing, especially from a large group of Kohanim, with their thunderous, pleasant and harmonious response to each word the Chazan directs them, and the holy traditional melody they sing while the congregation is given time to pray.

Wishing you a most
enjoyable and uplifting Shabbos!
Rabbi Dovid Saks

Shabbos Candlelighting: Friday May 25, 8:06 p.m.
Havdalla Saturday Night at 9:08 p.m.

In memory of Ellis Berger
Eliyahu ben Yonah Halevi
Harold Berger & Family

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