Dear Friends,
“May ADONAI bless you and keep you. May ADONAI shine light upon you and be good to you. May Adonai take note of you and grant you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26).
These three verses, in the middle of this week’s Torah portion, constitute the familiar Priestly Blessing, which is recited before the congregation on festivals by those who are descendants of the Aaronic priesthood and by most rabbis at joyous life-cycle moments, such as circumcisions, namings, B’nai Mitzvah and weddings. It is, for most, such a familiar blessing that it often is recited without much contemplation, and sometimes without sufficient meaning or spirit.
Thus, it behooves us to take a moment to ponder these powerful blessings.
My teacher in Rabbinic school, in Jerusalem, the late Nechama Liebowitz, taught that the first blessing was for material rewards, the second was for spiritual benefits, and the third combined the two.
Most people bristle at the thought that this blessing expresses God’s offering of material bounty on its recipients. Yet, Liebowitz taught, building on earlier commentaries, that the initial blessing, “bless you and keep you” asserted God’s providing us with the necessary blessings for life: food, shelter, sustenance, love – the elements of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. And, moreover, the second half of the opening blessing prevailed upon God to maintain these gifts. What good is it to receive such a benefit, only for it to be fleeting? We need protection not only for the gifts but also from the evils which prosperity might unwittingly bring, namely parsimonious and pretentious behavior.
And, the second blessing connotes spiritual gifts. When God shines a light on us, we radiate. We notice, and we are noticed. It warms our insides, and we have meaning. The darkness which may periodically pervade is dissipated, and the world becomes clear. Such is God’s blessing of light, and such reflects God being good to us. It is not a simple, feel-good, touchy-feely goodness. Rather, this Divine goodness is a recognition of who we are, not only by The Holy One but by ourselves in God’s light. That is true goodness!
Finally, the last blessing brings the two elements together. Now, God is fully aware of us and offers us the ultimate reward: wholeness and peace. This completes the package – making our physical life comfortable and secure, and our inner life whole and meaningful.
Thus, this week: “May ADONAI bless you and keep you. May ADONAI shine light upon you and be good to you. May Adonai take note of you and grant you peace.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn
“May ADONAI bless you and keep you. May ADONAI shine light upon you and be good to you. May Adonai take note of you and grant you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26).
These three verses, in the middle of this week’s Torah portion, constitute the familiar Priestly Blessing, which is recited before the congregation on festivals by those who are descendants of the Aaronic priesthood and by most rabbis at joyous life-cycle moments, such as circumcisions, namings, B’nai Mitzvah and weddings. It is, for most, such a familiar blessing that it often is recited without much contemplation, and sometimes without sufficient meaning or spirit.
Thus, it behooves us to take a moment to ponder these powerful blessings.
My teacher in Rabbinic school, in Jerusalem, the late Nechama Liebowitz, taught that the first blessing was for material rewards, the second was for spiritual benefits, and the third combined the two.
Most people bristle at the thought that this blessing expresses God’s offering of material bounty on its recipients. Yet, Liebowitz taught, building on earlier commentaries, that the initial blessing, “bless you and keep you” asserted God’s providing us with the necessary blessings for life: food, shelter, sustenance, love – the elements of Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. And, moreover, the second half of the opening blessing prevailed upon God to maintain these gifts. What good is it to receive such a benefit, only for it to be fleeting? We need protection not only for the gifts but also from the evils which prosperity might unwittingly bring, namely parsimonious and pretentious behavior.
And, the second blessing connotes spiritual gifts. When God shines a light on us, we radiate. We notice, and we are noticed. It warms our insides, and we have meaning. The darkness which may periodically pervade is dissipated, and the world becomes clear. Such is God’s blessing of light, and such reflects God being good to us. It is not a simple, feel-good, touchy-feely goodness. Rather, this Divine goodness is a recognition of who we are, not only by The Holy One but by ourselves in God’s light. That is true goodness!
Finally, the last blessing brings the two elements together. Now, God is fully aware of us and offers us the ultimate reward: wholeness and peace. This completes the package – making our physical life comfortable and secure, and our inner life whole and meaningful.
Thus, this week: “May ADONAI bless you and keep you. May ADONAI shine light upon you and be good to you. May Adonai take note of you and grant you peace.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Douglas Kohn