Every Friday evening, after we light the Shabbat candles and before we make kiddush I bless my children, with the three fold Priestly Blessing. Even though my children are now adults, I never miss an opportunity to bless them. We also share this blessing with each child who becomes b’nai mitzvah at our congregation and with each couple at their wedding. In special moments we bless others.
In this week’s Torah portion, God tells Moses to tell Aaron to give the priestly blessing to the Israelites, “Speak to Aaron and his sons: Thus shall you bless the people of Israel. “May God bless you and protect you. May God’s presence shine upon you and show you grace. May God’ always be before you and may God grant you peace.” (Numbers 6:23-26)
This is where the practice began. Discussing this in Midrash Tanhuma our rabbis wrote that God says to Moses and Aaron, “From the beginning I have blessed My people; from now on the blessings are transmitted to you. You are to bless My children.” Thus we have a transition from Divine to human agency to transmit blessings. God hands the power to create holiness over to us and it is up to us to pass this on.
The same is true for the entirety of the Jewish tradition. It is up to us to embrace it and to pass it on to our children in all its holiness and wonder. Thus when a parent blesses their child, or a rabbi blesses the wedding couple, we are transmitting the Jewish tradition. We are demonstrating that we can create holiness in our lives with intention and with words and in this way we invest our lives and our world with greater sanctity. Have you blessed anyone today? Perhaps you should.
Naso II, Numbers 6:1-7:89, Parshat Hashavua for Shabbat, June 3, 2023
June 2, 2023 by Dean Kertesz • Drashot
Every Friday evening, after we light the Shabbat candles and before we make kiddush I bless my children, with the three fold Priestly Blessing. Even though my children are now adults, I never miss an opportunity to bless them. We also share this blessing with each child who becomes b’nai mitzvah at our congregation and with each couple at their wedding. In special moments we bless others.
In this week’s Torah portion, God tells Moses to tell Aaron to give the priestly blessing to the Israelites, “Speak to Aaron and his sons: Thus shall you bless the people of Israel. “May God bless you and protect you. May God’s presence shine upon you and show you grace. May God’ always be before you and may God grant you peace.” (Numbers 6:23-26)
This is where the practice began. Discussing this in Midrash Tanhuma our rabbis wrote that God says to Moses and Aaron, “From the beginning I have blessed My people; from now on the blessings are transmitted to you. You are to bless My children.” Thus we have a transition from Divine to human agency to transmit blessings. God hands the power to create holiness over to us and it is up to us to pass this on.
The same is true for the entirety of the Jewish tradition. It is up to us to embrace it and to pass it on to our children in all its holiness and wonder. Thus when a parent blesses their child, or a rabbi blesses the wedding couple, we are transmitting the Jewish tradition. We are demonstrating that we can create holiness in our lives with intention and with words and in this way we invest our lives and our world with greater sanctity. Have you blessed anyone today? Perhaps you should.