Our member Rabbi Paul Bloom, being a Kohen, takes a particular interest in penetrating the depths of the Birkat Kohanim, which those of us who daven at Hanassi are privileged to hear every day. He recently wrote about the Priestly Blessing in his devar Torah for parashat Shemini ("A Hidden Gem", here) but he has plenty more to say on this crucial link between God and Man, as you will discover for yourself below.
One of the most cherished and frequently recited blessings in the Jewish tradition is the Priestly Blessing, known in Hebrew as Birkat Kohanim. Found in our Parsha, at Bamidbar 6:24-26, it reads:
יְבָרֶכְךָ ה׳ וְיִשְׁמְרֶך ("May Hashem bless you and safeguard you”)
יָאֵר ה׳ פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ
וִיחֻנֶּך (ָּ"May Hashem shine His
face toward you and be gracious to you).
יִשָּׂא ה׳ פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ
וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹםvM (!May Hashem lift His face toward you and grant you peace”)
At first glance, these verses appear to
be a simple three-part benediction. However, upon deeper examination—drawing
from Torah commentators, Midrashim, and timeless insights—we uncover a profound
spiritual roadmap for personal and national blessing, perception, and unity.
1. Material Blessing as a
Foundation for Spiritual Insight
“After I bless you with health and
wealth,” Hashem seems to say, “you will finally have the capacity to receive
the true light—the light of Torah.”
Torah is often referred to as light:
כִּי נֵר מִצְוָה וְתוֹרָה אוֹר ("For a mitzvah is a lamp and
Torah is light”, Mishlei 6:23).
The Divine light in Torah isn’t merely
intellectual—it’s transformative. But to perceive this light, we must be free
from the burdens that cloud our vision. This is the hidden kindness in Hashem’s
material blessings: they are not ends in themselves but tools to reveal the
inner, eternal light.
2. Visibility of Divine
Favor
The second verse of the Priestly Blessing
reads:
יָאֵר ה׳ פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ ("May
Hashem shine His face toward you…)
The Hebrew word "יָאֵר" (He will enlighten) is striking.
Throughout Jewish tradition, light is associated with Torah, clarity, and
spiritual awakening. But how does Hashem “shine His face” if He has no face? The
Ibn Ezra and other commentators
explain that "face" here symbolizes Hashgachah pratit, Divine providence. When Hashem “shines His
face,” it means His presence and guidance are felt clearly in one’s life.
The Netziv again offers a remarkable
insight: this blessing is not just that one receives God's favor—but that
others can see it. Divine favor becomes visible.
It’s not mere luck or circumstance; the blessing radiates with a clarity that
even bystanders recognize as holy.
This idea echoes God’s promise to
Avraham:
וְאֶהְיֶה בְּרָכָה... וְנִבְרְכוּ בְךָ כָּל מִשְׁפְּחֹת הָאֲדָמָה ("You shall be a blessing…
and all the families of the earth shall be blessed through you”: Bereishit 12:2–3).
When others see the glow of God’s favor
on someone, they are drawn toward it. They ask: “What is your secret?” And the
answer often leads back to Torah, mitzvot, kindness, and faith.
3. Divine Vision: Seeing
With “Einayim Shel Maalah”
The Midrash in Midrash Tanchuma
interprets “יָאֵר ה׳ פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ” as: He will give you eyes—that
is, spiritual vision. Not the physical ability to see, but the deeper capacity
to see what truly matters, to see the good, to perceive the Divine in the
mundane.
Consider the episode at the Akeidah,
where Avraham saw the Divine presence:
וַיִּשָּׂא אַבְרָהָם אֶת עֵינָיו וַיַּרְא ( "And Avraham lifted his eyes and
saw...": Bereishit 22:4)
He turned to Yitzchak and asked if he too
could see. Yitzchak saw. But Eliezer and Yishmael could not. What did they see?
All saw the same cloud. But only Avraham and Yitzchak recognized the Divine
within it. Our worldview shapes what we perceive.
Hashem’s blessing, then, is not just to see, but to see clearly, spiritually, and compassionately. As
the blessing in the Amidah says:
אַתָּה חוֹנֵן לְאָדָם דַּעַת... חָנֵּנוּ מֵאִתְּךָ דֵּעָה בִּינָה
וְהַשְׂכֵּל "You graciously endow man with knowledge… grant us understanding,
insight, and discernment."
This Divine illumination is what enables
us to see light even in darkness, to judge others favorably, to seek the good
in ourselves and in others, and to rise above cynicism or despair.
4. Grace and Exoneration
The verse continues:
וִיחֻנֶּךָּ “And be gracious to you.”
The Hebrew word "חן" (chen, grace) is difficult to define. It is a beauty that
transcends reason. As in the story of Esther:
וַתִּשָּׂא אֵסְתֵּר חֵן בְּעֵינֵי כָּל רֹאֶיהָ "And
Esther found favor in the eyes of all who saw her” Esther 2:15.
Grace is not superficial charm—it is
Divine favor, where others are inclined toward kindness and compassion on your
behalf, often beyond your merits.
According to the Talmud (Berachot 20b), the word “ויחנך” can also mean to exonerate.
Sometimes, despite our flaws, Hashem’s radiance obscures our failings. Just as
intense light can blur what lies beneath, God's shining face helps diminish our
spiritual blemishes—provided we sincerely strive toward Teshuvah.
5. The Culmination: Peace
as the Ultimate Vessel
The final verse is:
יִשָּׂא ה׳ פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלוֹם "May Hashem lift His face
toward you and grant you peace."
The Mishnah
(Uktzin 3:12) famously teaches:
לֹא מָצָא הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּלִי מַחֲזִיק בְּרָכָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל
אֶלָּא הַשָּׁלוֹם "The Holy One, Blessed be He, found no vessel that could hold
blessing for Israel except for peace."
The word Shalom shares a root with Shalem—wholeness. Peace is not the
absence of conflict, but the integration of all parts into a greater unity. It
is the harmony that results when each tribe, each person, contributes their
unique light to the national tapestry.
As the verse in Psalms teaches:
ה׳ עֹז לְעַמּוֹ יִתֵּן, ה׳ יְבָרֵךְ אֶת עַמּוֹ בַּשָּׁלוֹם "Hashem will give strength to His people; Hashem
will bless His people with peace”: Tehillim 29:11.
Peace is both the result and the
prerequisite of Divine blessing. Without it, blessings dissipate. With it, they
endure.
Conclusion: Becoming a
Vessel of Light
The Priestly Blessing is not just a
wish—it is a call to action. God blesses us with physical needs so that we may
pursue Torah. He enlightens us so we may see goodness and emulate Him. He
shines His face upon us so that we may reflect His light in our lives and
inspire others. And He grants us peace—not as a passive gift, but as a
challenge to unify, to respect, and to love.
May we merit the fulfillment of these
blessings—personally, communally, and nationally:
וְשָׂמוּ אֶת שְׁמִי עַל בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וַאֲנִי אֲבָרְכֵם "And
they shall place My Name upon the Children of Israel, and I shall bless them”: Bamidbar 6:27.
